The Qubit in Quantum Computing

GS Paper III Science and Technology

Context:

Recently, scientists from various institutions in Japan worked together on a study reported in the journal Science Advances.

The Japanese study focused on a system with zirconium as the metal component and an organic molecule containing the chromophore pentacene connecting the metal atoms.
They discovered a way to create qubits, the building blocks of quantum computers, at room temperature using a metal-organic framework (MOF).

It is the fundamental unit of information in quantum computing.
It is a two-state (or two-level) quantum-mechanical system.
- It uses the quantum mechanical principle of superposition to combine two states linearly.
  - This quality of superposition is unique to quantum systems as it is not present in the bits of traditional computers.
  - These superposed states, also referred to as coherent superpositions.
    - It plays a significant role in quantum information processing methods.

Qubits’ superposition feature is special but is fragile due to interactions with other systems.
They should be the same to make a quantum device which is very difficult.
- They are manufactured so there are chances of small errors.

A MOF is like a pattern made of molecules that repeat over and over.
In this pattern, there’s a metal atom or ion in the center, and organic molecules are attached to it like tentacles.
Each tentacle links to another metal atom, and this pattern continues to build the MOF structure.

Qubit

Qubit

Chromophores are molecules that absorb specific colors of light due to which it helps in giving objects their dominant color.
For instance, the green color of numerous plant leaves results from chlorophyll, a chromophore that mainly absorbs red and blue light from sunlight.
Chromophores cause coloration due to which it is commonly referred to as “color molecules”.
When a chromophore absorbs light, it enters a higher energy level known as an excited state.

Spin

Each electron inherently possesses a characteristic known as spin.
The concept of electron spin refers to the rotation of the electron around its own axis.

Qubit

In its ground state, a chromophore molecule has a pair of electrons with opposite spins, known as a singlet configuration.
- Singlet configuration occurs when the spins of two electrons point in opposite directions, resulting in a total spin of zero.
Excitation involves electrons moving to higher energy levels similar to climbing up a ladder.
- A singlet excited state arises when electrons on different energy levels have opposite spins, while a triplet excited state occurs when electrons on different levels have spins in the same direction.
The process, where a singlet excited state chromophore produces two triplet excited chromophores, is called singlet fission.
- This energy transfer occurs as the two chromophores interact.

Also Read: Ergosphere: Making A Black Hole Work

New Source: Thehindu

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