Researchers at the University of Jena have announced a significant breakthrough in quantum computing, successfully demonstrating direct control of a minuscule quantum component using electric fields for the first time. The component, known as a qubit – a fundamental processing unit for quantum computers – can now be influenced without relying on magnetic fields, the university reported on Wednesday.
This discovery is considered an important step toward the development of faster and more energy-efficient quantum computers. Historically, controlling these systems has primarily involved the use of magnetic fields, a technically complex and demanding process.
The team of chemists achieved this advancement using a specially designed miniature device constructed from copper, exhibiting heightened sensitivity to electrical current. According to Winfried Plass, project lead at the University of Jena’s Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, “Electric fields offer more precision, speed and ease of control”. He added that systems based on this approach have the potential to enable more powerful and energy-efficient quantum computing architectures. The findings have been published in the scientific journal “Nature Communications”.