Linked Rings for Quantum Information Processing
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
Quantum information processing sounds like science fiction. In a conventional computer information is stored in a bit which can either be a 0 or a 1, and processing information involves changing 0 to 1 or 1 to 0. In a quantum computer information would be stored as a Qubit which is a super-position of 0 and 1. An analogue would be that a classical bit is like a light switch, which is either on or off, while a Qubit is a dimmer switch set simultaneously to all possible positions. This proposal involves using magnetic metal complexes as Qubits , and looking at methods for linking them together to perform quantum operations. The key problem is to introduce links which can be modified easily and thus make a two Qubit quantum gate . Two means of modifying links are by shining light on them - if they are photo-active - or adding or removing electrons from them - if they are redox-active. The proposal builds on previous work in Manchester in making the magnetic metal complexes and photo/redox-active compounds. Combining these two areas of expertise makes it possible for us to make significant progress towards creating a prototype molecular quantum gate. As no efficient means for performing quantum information processing presently exists - despite large scientific effort in this area from companies such as IBM - if successful this project would change the world.
Organisations
Publications
Corradini V
(2009)
Successful grafting of isolated molecular Cr 7 Ni rings on Au(111) surface
in Physical Review B
Corradini V
(2010)
Grafting molecular Cr7Ni rings on a gold surface
in Dalton Transactions
Lee CF
(2009)
Hybrid organic-inorganic rotaxanes and molecular shuttles.
in Nature
Timco GA
(2008)
Heterometallic rings made from chromium stick together easily.
in Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)
Timco GA
(2009)
Engineering the coupling between molecular spin qubits by coordination chemistry.
in Nature nanotechnology