Maintaining the Flow: How Scientists Are Putting a "Spin" on the Whole Process.

As we’ve been discussing, cohesion, or the lack there of, is a big, if not the biggest, issue slowing the development of quantum computing.  At small levels, quantum bits can maintain their quantum state, therefore achieving cohesion for a reasonably lengthy period of time.  On the contrary, at larger levels, quantum bits loose cohesion rapidly causing the quantum process they’re supporting to cease.  Finding the right material to maintain this cohesion is only part of the equation. Performing the correct process on this material is equally important. 

The manipulation of electrons across the provided medium is a key factor in quantum mechanics.  As electrons pass along a conducting source, their quantum state is maintained with a balance of conducting and insulating properties contained within the material they pass through.  While traditional electrical mechanics are not concerned with the quantum charistics of an electron, quantum mechanics relies on it.  One of these characteristics is the “spin” of the electron.  One of the challenges scientists face is controlling this spin which has a direct effect on their quantum state.

Yanxia Xing, Zhong-liu Yang, Qing-feng Sun, Jian Wang (2014). ‘Coherent single-spin source based topological insulators’. Physical Review B condensed mater and materials physics, Retrieved from http://journals.aps.org.mutex.gmu.edu/prb/pdf/10.1103/PhysRevB.90.075435