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Innovative Approach by Harvard Scientists: Utilizing Sound for Device Testing and Quantum Qubit Control
Over time, acoustic resonators commonly found in devices such as smartphones and Wi-Fi systems experience degradation without an efficient means of monitoring this decline. Scientists from Harvard’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and Purdue University have devised a groundbreaking technique employing atomic vacancies in silicon carbide to assess the stability of these resonators. Furthermore, this method offers the potential to manipulate quantum states, with applications spanning accelerometers, gyroscopes, timekeeping devices, and quantum networking.
The utilization of sound waves to govern atomic vacancies holds promise for advancing communication technologies and introducing innovative control mechanisms into the realm of quantum computing.
Acoustic resonators are ubiquitous in our daily lives, frequently residing within smartphones as radio frequency filters, tasked with eliminating signal-deteriorating noise. These filters are also integral components in Wi-Fi and GPS systems.
While acoustic resonators boast greater stability compared to their electrical counterparts, they are not immune to the wear and tear of time. Currently, there exists no straightforward method to actively monitor and assess the material quality degradation in these widely employed devices.
Researchers at Harvard’s SEAS, in collaboration with the OxideMEMS Lab at Purdue University, have now devised a system harnessing atomic vacancies in silicon carbide to gauge the stability and quality of acoustic resonators. Remarkably, these vacancies could also serve as a means for acoustically-driven quantum information processing, offering a novel approach to manipulating quantum states inherent in this commonly used material.
Evelyn Hu, the Tarr-Coyne Professor of Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering, as well as the Robin Li and Melissa Ma Professor of Arts and Sciences, emphasized the versatility of silicon carbide as both the host for quantum reporters and the acoustic resonator probe. This technique, within silicon carbide, holds the potential to monitor the performance of accelerometers, gyroscopes, and timekeeping devices over their operational lifetimes. Additionally, in the realm of quantum applications, it could facilitate hybrid quantum memory systems and quantum networking.
The findings of this research have been published in the prestigious journal “Nature Electronics.”
Delving into the intricacies of acoustic resonators, silicon carbide emerges as a prevalent material in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), encompassing bulk acoustic resonators.
Sunil Bhave, a professor at Purdue’s Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and co-author of the research paper, highlighted the exceptional performance of silicon carbide resonators, particularly those amenable to wafer-scale manufacturing. Nonetheless, crystal growth defects and manufacturing imperfections can lead to stress-concentration regions within MEMS resonators.
Presently, the sole means of inspecting the inner workings of an acoustic resonator without destructive measures entails the deployment of high-powered and expensive X-rays, such as those available at the Argonne National Lab.
Graduate student Jonathan Dietz, co-first author of the paper, outlined the motivation behind their research. Their objective was to establish an approach enabling the monitoring of acoustic energy within a bulk acoustic resonator, facilitating feedback into the design and fabrication processes, all without relying on costly and hard-to-access equipment.
Silicon carbide inherently hosts defects where an atom is absent from the crystal lattice, creating localized electronic states with spins that interact with sound waves through material strain, generated by the acoustic resonator. When acoustic waves propagate through the material, they induce mechanical strain on the lattice, potentially altering the spin state of these defects. A laser-based technique allows researchers to discern changes in the spin state, shedding light on the strength of acoustic energy within the defect’s vicinity. Due to the atomic-scale nature of these defects, the information they provide is highly localized, permitting the non-destructive mapping of acoustic waves within the device.
This mapping can pinpoint areas where the system may be deteriorating or operating suboptimally.
Moreover, these same defects within silicon carbide can function as qubits in a quantum system. Many quantum technologies rely on spin coherence, which refers to the duration spins remain in a specific state. Traditionally, magnetic fields control this coherence. However, the research team, led by Evelyn Hu, demonstrated the ability to manipulate spin by mechanically altering the material with acoustic waves, achieving a level of control comparable to approaches involving alternating magnetic fields.
Hu emphasized the significance of utilizing a material’s inherent mechanical properties, such as strain, to expand the spectrum of material control. By deforming the material, the team ascertained their ability to govern spin coherence, all through the application of acoustic waves. This breakthrough offers a fresh perspective on influencing the quantum states embedded within the material.
This groundbreaking research is detailed in the paper titled “Spin-acoustic control of silicon vacancies in 4H silicon carbide,” authored by Jonathan R. Dietz, Boyang Jiang, Aaron M. Day, Sunil A. Bhave, and Evelyn L. Hu, and was published on September 21, 2023, in “Nature Electronics.” The study received support from the National Science Foundation under the RAISE-TAQS Award 1839164 and grant DMR-1231319, with co-authorship attributed to Boyang Jiang.
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Quantum Resonators
What is the primary focus of the research conducted by Harvard scientists?
The primary focus of the research conducted by Harvard scientists is to utilize sound waves to monitor and control quantum resonators in silicon carbide.
How do acoustic resonators play a role in everyday devices?
Acoustic resonators are commonly found in devices such as smartphones and Wi-Fi systems, where they function as radio frequency filters to eliminate signal-deteriorating noise.
What makes silicon carbide a significant material in this research?
Silicon carbide is crucial in this research due to its ability to host atomic vacancies, which can be used to assess the stability and quality of acoustic resonators. It also serves as a medium for acoustically-controlled quantum information processing.
How does the research enable the monitoring of acoustic energy within resonators?
The research employs defects in silicon carbide, where atoms are missing from the crystal lattice. When acoustic waves pass through the material, they induce strain on the lattice, altering the spin state of these defects. Laser-based techniques are then used to observe changes in the spin state, providing insights into acoustic energy levels.
What are the potential applications of this research?
This research has broad applications, including monitoring the performance of accelerometers, gyroscopes, and clocks over their lifetimes. It also offers potential applications in the field of quantum computing, enabling the manipulation of quantum states.
How does the research demonstrate control over quantum systems?
Harvard scientists showed that mechanical deformation of silicon carbide with acoustic waves can control spin coherence in quantum systems, providing an alternative to traditional magnetic field control.
Where was the research published, and what grants supported it?
The research was published in “Nature Electronics” and received support from the National Science Foundation under the RAISE-TAQS Award 1839164 and grant DMR-1231319.
More about Quantum Resonators
- Nature Electronics: The research paper was published in this scientific journal.
- Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS): The institution where the research was conducted.
- Purdue University: Collaborative partner in the research.
- National Science Foundation: The NSF provided support through the RAISE-TAQS Award 1839164 and grant DMR-1231319.
