Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Quantum engineering

Spins coupled to a persistent current

Nature volume 478, pages 195–196 (2011)Cite this article

Subjects

Quantum computing architectures based on hybrid systems require strong coupling and information exchange between their constituent elements. These two features have been achieved in one such hybrid setting. See Letter p.221

The development of electronic technologies based on the principles of quantum mechanics, such as quantum computing, requires coupling and integration of quantum objects of various kinds on the same electronic chip. For such integration to succeed, each object needs to be among the best in its class. On page 221 of this issue, Zhu et al.1 make progress in this direction by successfully demonstrating coupling between two quantum systems: a superconducting flux quantum bit (qubit) and an ensemble of identical, highly 'coherent' quantum spins. The authors show that the two systems exchange quanta of radiation, allowing quantum information encoded in the quanta to be reliably transferred between them. The result is relevant for quantum computing based on hybrid settings, in which the superconducting qubits would process quantum information and the spins would be used to preserve or transfer the information2.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: Quantum hybrid.

References

  1. Zhu, X. et al. Nature 478, 221–224 (2011).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Blencowe, M. Nature 468, 44–45 (2010).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Mooij, J. E. et al. Science 285, 1036–1039 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Tavis, M. & Cummings, F. W. Phys. Rev. 170, 379–384 (1968).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Kaluzny, Y., Goy, P., Gross, M., Raimond, J. M. & Haroche, S. Phys. Rev. Lett. 51, 1175–1178 (1983).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Thompson, R. J., Rempe, G. & Kimble, H. J. Phys. Rev. Lett. 68, 1132–1135 (1992).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Rabl, P. et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 033003 (2006).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Imamoğlu, A. Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 083602 (2009).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. Marcos, D. et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 210501 (2010).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Irinel Chiorescu is in the Department of Physics and National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32310, USA.,

    Irinel Chiorescu

Authors
  1. Irinel Chiorescu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Irinel Chiorescu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chiorescu, I. Spins coupled to a persistent current. Nature 478, 195–196 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/478195a

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/478195a

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing