Nanoscale quantum physics and quantum information processing with electrons and atoms in semiconductor quantum dots

Nanoscale semiconductor structures are actively studied for potential applications in quantum information processing, energy harvesting, and photonics. Quantum dots, known as artificial atoms, are nanometer-sized semiconductor crystals capable of holding individual electrons. These nanostructures are particularly promising for quantum information processing hardware: the quantized magnetic states of the electrons can be used to store and process information with efficiency inaccessible to any classical digital computer, while the well-developed semiconductor technologies and the small size of the quantum dots offer pathways to large-scale integrated quantum circuits. Recent breakthroughs in semiconductor nanotechnology resulted in development of a new type of quantum dots. Unlike the previous generations, these new gallium arsenide nanostructures are free from internal strain, allowing the quantum magnetic states of the crystal atoms to be used for information storage and processing. The aim of this project is to explore experimentally the fundamental physics of quantum thermodynamics, many-body quantum coherence and entanglement in these unique nanostructures. Using this knowledge, the project will proceed towards development of prototype quantum dot devices that exploit magnetic states of electrons and atoms for quantum information processing protocols.