Fujitsu develops diamond-spin quantum computer that incorporates tin-vacancy centers

Fujitsu has developed a working prototype of a diamond-spin quantum computer.

In a statement, the Japanese tech giant said the system was the “world’s first” system of its kind to incorporate tin-vacancy (SnV) centers into photonic integrated circuits.

The prototype can be operated at -271.6°C (-456.9°F), higher than the typical operating temperature of superconducting quantum computers, which is around -273.13°C (-459.6°F).

SnV centers are atomic-scale defects that occur when a tin atom is placed inside a diamond to leave a ‘vacancy.’ These custom flaws are known as ‘centers.’

Typical diamond-spin approaches use nitrogen-vacancy centers, where nitrogen atoms are inserted into diamonds. However, by using tin-vacancy, Fujitsu said it was able to produce centers which feature “structural symmetry and are less susceptible to external noise than NV centers, making them attractive candidates for stable, high-brightness color centers.”

The prototype is based on research jointly undertaken by Fujitsu, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands, and QuTech, a quantum technology research institute and part of TU Delft, and forms part of the company’s quantum roadmap, which outlines its aim to realize practical quantum computing by 2030.