Single electrons on solid neon as a solid-state qubit platform

Area of Science:

• Quantum computing hardware
• Solid-state quantum information systems
• Electron quantum states

Background:

• Quantum computer development relies on advanced qubit building blocks.
• Electrons are fundamental quantum information carriers, but their performance depends on the material environment.
• Existing qubit platforms face challenges in achieving long coherence, fast operation, and scalability simultaneously.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally realize a novel qubit platform using isolated single electrons trapped on solid neon.
• To integrate this electron-on-neon system into a circuit quantum electrodynamics architecture.
• To demonstrate strong coupling between electron motional states and microwave photons for qubit operations.

Main Methods:

• Experimental realization of trapping single electrons on an ultraclean solid neon surface in vacuum.
• Integration of an electron trap within a circuit quantum electrodynamics architecture.
• Implementation of qubit gate operations and dispersive readout using on-chip superconducting resonators.

Main Results:

• Achieved strong coupling between single electron motional states and single microwave photons.
• Measured an energy relaxation time (T1) of 15 microseconds.
• Measured a phase coherence time (T2) exceeding 200 nanoseconds.

Conclusions:

• The electron-on-solid-neon qubit platform demonstrates competitive performance, nearing the state-of-the-art for charge qubits.
• This platform offers a promising new avenue for constructing scalable quantum computers and quantum information systems.
• The achieved coherence and operation times highlight the potential of electrons as robust quantum information carriers in tailored environments.