Patterning Atomic-scale Quantum Systems with DNA Origami
Abstract
Quantum science has the potential to revolutionize the way we compute, sense, and communicate. With rapid developments in recent years in the control and isolation of individual atomic-scale quantum elements, quantum technologies are nearing incorporation into commercial technologies and are enabling major breakthroughs in fundamental scientific understanding. Molecular and atomic scale systems are particularly powerful quantum systems because quantum effects are most visible at the smallest of length scales. An outstanding challenge to scalable and efficient quantum technologies is the deterministic, nanometer-scale positioning of atomic-scale systems that exhibit robust quantum coherence, the delicate property of quantum systems that distinguishes them from classical systems. This capability would enable a myriad of long-standing goals including molecular structure imaging with quantum sensors, deterministic entanglement distribution amongst a network of quantum bits, and quantum emulation of many-body condensed matter systems. However the patterning of atomic-scale quantum bits is not possible with current, state-of-the-art lithographic techniques. The proposed work leverages the bio-inspired technology of DNA origami to self-assemble molecular structures that host single atomic spins at deterministic locations with nanoscale precision. Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center defects in diamond, a well-developed quantum technology, will be interfaced with these spin systems in order to prepare and readout their quantum properties with simple optical methods. Combining the growing nucleus of quantum science activity in the United States with advanced biophysical and chemical techniques will be vital to further development of quantum technologies. Importantly this research will engage students at UC Santa Barbara with diverse backgrounds, and will leverage burgeoning educational efforts on campus to train a diverse group of students in the growing fields of quantum technology and DNA nanotechnology. UCSB is unique in its combination of cutting-edge research opportunities, the largest number of undergraduate physics majors in the nation, and its diverse student population as a Hispanic serving institution, and thus provides an excellent opportunity for training diverse students to be the nationÕs best. The convergent expertise of our team in quantum science and DNA nanotechnology, combined with intense student interest in these two fields at UCSB, is vital to the success of this ambitious proposal.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 31, 2020
- Source ID
- W911NF2010230
Entities
People
- Ania C. Bleszynski Jayich
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- University of California, Santa Barbara