Quantum Computing Breakthrough: University of Washington Researchers Detect Atomic 'Breathing'

Researchers at the University of Washington have made a breakthrough in quantum computing by detecting and utilizing the vibrations, known as atomic “breathing,“ of individual atoms. The team observed these vibrations by studying the light emitted when atoms were stimulated by a laser. They aimed to develop a better quantum emitter (QE) for use in optical circuits. QEs are crucial for generating quantum particles called qubits, which are used in quantum computing. By creating strain-induced quantum dots on ultra-thin sheets of tungsten diselenide, the researchers produced consistent, high-quality photons that could potentially be used as qubits. Additionally, they discovered the presence of phonons, quantum vibrations between atom-thin layers, which were tightly correlated with the emitted photons. The team was able to control and manipulate the phonon-exciton-photon interaction by adjusting electrical voltage, opening up possibilities for encoding specific quantum information into photons. The find