Tiny sound waves could help solve a major quantum computing problem

Researchers at Harvard have demonstrated a way to protect quantum information using microscopic sound waves. By continuously surrounding a diamond-based qubit with mechanical vibrations, they extended its coherence time by roughly threefold. The same phonons could eventually both transmit and protect quantum information, opening the door to compact sound-based quantum networks on chips.

Tiny sound waves could help solve a major quantum computing problem. Tiny sound waves could help solve a major quantum computing problem Science News from research organizations Tiny sound waves could help solve a major quantum computing problem Harvard researchers used microscopic sound waves to protect quantum information, helping a qubit preserve its fragile state about three times longer. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have demonstrated a new way to protect delicate quantum information using mechanical vibrations, essentially microscopic sound waves.

The advance, developed in the lab of Marko Lončar, Tiantsai Lin Professor of Electrical Engineering, could support the development of compact quantum networks built directly onto chips. It may also help enable hybrid quantum systems that combine several different kinds of quantum bits, or qubits. The findings are published in Nature Physics.