Working on the edge

Unlike conventional computers, which break information down to a series of ones or zeros, known as bits, quantum computers manipulate information in the form of qubits. These qubits have the strange property of being able to be both a one and a zero at the same time, theoretically enabling quantum computers to solve problems in a fraction of the time it would take a conventional machine to do the same thing.
Andrew Briggs, professor of nanomaterials at Oxford University, is leading research into technologies for developing the quantum circuits that would ultimately be used within quantum computers. ........... As part of the project Briggs and his team have been investigating three different technologies with the potential for use in building quantum circuits: nanofabricated quantum dots; self-assembled quantum dots; and recently discovered molecules called fullerenes, which have unique magnetic properties that can be used to encapsulate information.

Nanofabricating quantum dots involves printing individual silicon quantum dots - 3D pyramid structures - on to a semiconductor substrate using lithography. By carefully controlling the charge on these structures, they can be made to exhibit quantum behaviour, said Briggs.

'we have made a significant breakthrough in demonstrating a single quantum dot
technology. We can show the qubit evolving, from being entirely a zero to being entirely a one, and having this weird property of being both at the same time.'


http://www.materials.ox.ac.uk/uploads/file/news-press01.pdf