- Pro
Organo-erbium molecules combine strong magnetism with tunable optical transitions
Comments (0) ()When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: John Zich/University of Chicago)
- Erbium molecular qubits provide precise optical and spin transitions for quantum control
- These qubits enable spin states to be accessed through telecom-compatible light
- High-resolution spin-photon interfaces could support scalable quantum network development
Scientists have created an erbium-based molecular qubit that offers a way to interface quantum systems with existing fiber networks.
These qubits combine precise optical and spin transitions and permit operations at standard telecommunications wavelengths.
It allows magnetic quantum states to be controlled and read out using light compatible with standard fiber-optic infrastructure.
You may like-
Can engineering catch up with quantum physics and bring us useful quantum computing
-
IBM goes all-in on quantum chips - new Nighthawk and Loon hardware look to bring the dream to life at last
-
PsiQuantum plans to build world’s first large scale fault tolerant million qubit quantum computers for solving some of the world’s most complex scientific problems
High-Resolution Spin-Photon Interfaces
This capability could support scalable quantum networks without requiring entirely new communication hardware.
The development was led by scientists at the University of Chicago, in collaboration with UC Berkeley, Argonne National Laboratory, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Their work received support from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science and the Q-NEXT National Quantum Information Science Research Center.
The team engineered organo-erbium molecules to combine strong magnetic interactions with optical transitions in telecom bands, creating a controllable and tunable quantum system.
Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletterContact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.The molecular qubits provide a spin-photon interface at the nanoscale.
“These molecules can act as a nanoscale bridge between the world of magnetism and the world of optics,” said Leah Weiss, postdoctoral scholar at the UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and co-first author.
Optical spectroscopy and microwave techniques enable addressing quantum states with megahertz-level precision.
You may like-
Can engineering catch up with quantum physics and bring us useful quantum computing
-
IBM goes all-in on quantum chips - new Nighthawk and Loon hardware look to bring the dream to life at last
-
PsiQuantum plans to build world’s first large scale fault tolerant million qubit quantum computers for solving some of the world’s most complex scientific problems
Such dual control allows connections between spin-based quantum processors or sensors and photonic systems.
These features form the potential building blocks for integrated quantum devices and communication networks.
Because the qubits’ optical transitions fall within telecom bands, they can be integrated with silicon photonics platforms.
This compatibility allows both workstation-level experiments for development and large-scale deployment in data centers for broader networked applications.
The qubits’ design could speed up the creation of hybrid systems that combine optical, microwave, and quantum control on a single chip.
These systems also open opportunities for sensing, quantum communication, and integrated quantum platforms.
Erbium molecular qubits could be incorporated into systems capable of transmitting, entangling, and distributing quantum states over commercial fiber.
This approach allows quantum networks to connect directly with existing optical infrastructure while remaining compatible with classical networks.
“By demonstrating the versatility of these erbium molecular qubits, we’re taking another step toward scalable quantum networks that can plug directly into today’s optical infrastructure,” said David Awschalom, the Liew Family Professor of Molecular Engineering and Physics at UChicago and principal investigator.
Although the results show technical feasibility, practical deployment still requires evaluation under real-world network conditions.
Challenges remain in integrating these qubits with CPU-based controllers, managing large-scale data center implementation, and ensuring consistent performance.
That said, this work moves the field toward quantum networks, while still needing extensive testing for widespread adoption.
Via SDxCentral
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.
Efosa UdinmwenFreelance JournalistEfosa has been writing about technology for over 7 years, initially driven by curiosity but now fueled by a strong passion for the field. He holds both a Master's and a PhD in sciences, which provided him with a solid foundation in analytical thinking.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
Logout Read more
Can engineering catch up with quantum physics and bring us useful quantum computing
IBM goes all-in on quantum chips - new Nighthawk and Loon hardware look to bring the dream to life at last
PsiQuantum plans to build world’s first large scale fault tolerant million qubit quantum computers for solving some of the world’s most complex scientific problems
Are we ready for the post-quantum era?
Laser Processing Units could give traditional CPUs, GPUs and quantum computers a run for their money - but don’t expect them to run Windows anytime soon
"A potential revolution" - Microsoft backs researchers working on potentially the fastest fiber optics yet
Latest in Pro
AWS Graviton5 is its most powerful and efficient CPU to date - and could mean big changes for your key cloud workloads
Start 2026 strong - you can save up to 50% on Wix’s top apps right now
Customer data stolen in Freedom Mobile account management platform hack
CEOs are warning AI adoption and spending should be more strategic
Apple Final Cut Pro (2025) review
This DDoS group just smashed the previous record with a 29.7 Tbps attack
Latest in News
Roblox, FaceTime become the last targets of Russia's censorship
Marvel Rivals now has a gacha mini-game featuring a limited-time Psylocke bundle – here's how it works
YouTube to lock out under-16s in Australia as controversial social media ban looms
Forget Spotify Wrapped, get back into CDs with FiiO’s gorgeous new portable player
Sony announces partnership with Bad Robot Games to produce and publish a new four-player, co-op shooter from Left 4 Dead director
Can you guess which pro Canon camera took the best landscape photo of 2025?
LATEST ARTICLES- 1CEOs are warning AI adoption and spending should be more strategic
- 2I went hands-on with Hengbot Sirius, an AI robot that left me wanting more
- 3AWS Graviton5 is its most powerful and efficient CPU to date - and could mean big changes for your key cloud workloads
- 4Roblox, FaceTime become the last targets of Russia's censorship
- 5Arm64 dominates AWS Lambda in 2025: Rust 4-5x faster than x86, costs 30% less across all workloads
