Quantum technology R&D at imo-imomec

Discover the latest achievements and some background links

Close-up of faceted diamond crystals reflecting light

In short

Because of two recent milestones, we put the spotlights on imo-imomec, an imec research group at Hasselt University (link to the main article can be found at the bottom of this item).

This article highlights a recent Nature Communications publication from their quantum photonics research and provides some background links about the topic.
 

The team of Milos Nesladek, head of the quantum photonics and technology research at imo-imomec, has a long track record of developing artificial diamonds and using their quantum properties in solid-state quantum systems. Their research, published in Nature Communications, demonstrated a viable approach for a quantum technology platform that operates at room temperature via electrically read electron-nuclear spin quantum gates on a diamond electronic chip. This proof of concept is a first step towards more complex, electrically-read quantum gates for advanced quantum technologies that can benefit from the long nuclear spin coherence in diamond.

Semiconductor spin qubit systems are promising candidates for future quantum technologies, such as quantum computing, telecommunication, and sensing, because of their potential for wide electronic scalability and nanoscale device integration. Nuclear spins in diamonds are particularly interesting because of their large coherence times, which is important for the performance and reliability of complex quantum applications. More precisely, at ambient temperatures, the coherence time is in the range of seconds; when cooled down to around 10K, it even increases to tens of minutes. 

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Authors

Milos Nesladek seated at a lab desk with dual monitors showing measurement graphs and a data interface

Milos Nesladek

Professor of Physics at the University of Hasselt and member of staff at IMO-IMOMEC
Author

Prof. Milos Nesladek, PhD, obtained his MSc. degree from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University in Prague, and the PhD degree from the Czech Academic Sciences, in collaboration with KU Leuven in the field of electronic transport in semiconductors. He is a professor of physics at the University of Hasselt and a member of staff at IMO-IMOMEC, an imec research group at University of Hasselt. He is one of the pioneering scientists in the field of growth of CVD diamond crystals in all forms, being in that field for the last 30 years. Prof. Nesladek’s research topic deals with photoconduction in condense matter systems with emphasis on wide-bandgap semiconductors. An example of this research is the development of photoelectrically read solid state Q-bits in diamond based on paramagnetic spin centers. Prof. Nesladek has participated in a large number of EU projects ranging from basic physics to industrial development projects which, some of them, he has coordinated. Prof. Nesladek is member of several conference boards and he is the Belgian representative to the Quantum Community Network (QCN) of the Quantum Flagship. Prof. Nesladek published over 300 scientific papers and contributed to several books. He is associated editor of Diamond Related Materials 

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