16.09.2024
Physicists from Warsaw have created a groundbreaking trap for "quantum tornadoes," or single quantum vortices, which form in superconductors. Utilizing the world’s fastest thermometer, they have learned how to control these vortices, proposing their use as memory cells in quantum computers. The research, led by Professor Maciej Zgirski's team from the Polish Academy of Sciences, was published in Science Advances.
At near-absolute zero, certain materials become superconductors, allowing current to flow without resistance. In the presence of a magnetic field, thin superconductors can generate tiny quantum vortices, which disrupt their superconducting properties. However, the Warsaw team has demonstrated how to trap and release these vortices, potentially converting them into memory storage units. The presence or absence of a vortex in a nanobox can represent binary states, essential for quantum computing memory.
The research is made possible by a highly advanced thermometer, capable of measuring temperature shifts with nanosecond precision. The study also opens doors to potential applications in random number generation, energy detection, and sensor technology. These findings lay the foundation for a new field of physics focused on nanothermometry in superconductors.
