Researchers around the world have been studying quantum phenomena that only appear in honeycomb materials for the past 20 to 30 years in order to implement quantum computers without errors. However, for the first time in the world, a research team in Korea has discovered a quantum state that can realize an error-free quantum computer even in a material with a two-dimensional triangular lattice structure rather than a honeycomb structure.
The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 29th that a research team led by Seoul National University Professor Park Je-geun and Ewha Womans University Professor Kim Seong-jin succeeded in discovering a new quantum state in a magnetic van der Waals material with a triangular lattice structure for the first time in the world. The results of this research, which was carried out with the support of the Ministry of Science and ICT’s Basic Research Project (Leader Research), were published in the international journal Nature Physics.
The Kita F model is a quantum phenomenon that appears in a material with a honeycomb structure and has a quantum state that can realize an error-free quantum computer.
In the meantime, domestic and foreign researchers have only implemented the Kita-F model using honeycomb structure materials. It is only theoretically known that a variety of quantum phenomena can occur when a material with a triangular lattice structure rather than a honeycomb structure has a quantum state, but has never been implemented in actual materials. While researching magnetic materials, the research team discovered that when nickel ( Ni ), which
was previously used, is replaced with cobalt ( Co ), several conditions for the Kita-F model to be implemented are satisfied. Cobalt iodide ( CoI2) used by the research team
) was found to be synthesizable about 40 years ago, but it was vulnerable to moisture and there were not many studies related to it, so it was difficult to use this material.
However, the research team explained that it was possible to analyze the material in a more stable state because it has continued to study magnetic materials. The research team conducted inelastic neutron scattering experiments and spin wave measurements at the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Center ( J-PARC
) Neutron Facility to experimentally prove what they theoretically discovered . The experimental results were analyzed through joint research with US researchers, and the Ministry of Science and ICT announced that this was the world’s first result to experimentally implement
the Kita F model in a two-dimensional triangular grid. In addition, it was explained that the international joint research of Korea, the US and Japan has achieved world-class research results in quantum materials. The Ministry of Science and ICT said of the research team’s research achievements, “By implementing the Kita-F model that can be used in quantum computers in a two-dimensional magnetic van der Waals triangular lattice material, high utilization is expected in the future in the field of condensed matter physics and quantum information.” . In a phone call with Newsis, Professor Park said that it was an opportunity to explore new materials that could lead to the commercialization of quantum computers. Professor Park said, “There is still a long way to go for a quantum computer to become a so-called universal computer. IBM and others are trying to use quantum computing technology with superconducting qubits, but there are clearly limitations. “
) Just as several technologies competed when the chip was developed, we also opened up a possibility with the newly developed methodology. “It is
very important to discover quantum states with quantum entanglement in two-dimensional materials,” he said. “Our research team In the field of magnetic van der Waals materials, which was pioneered and established as a globally important research field, he discovered a quantum state in which quantum entanglement is important, and led the field by producing leading research results again.”