Nuclear Spin Engineering for Quantum Information Science

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in engineering nuclear spins in semiconductor materials to improve quantum information processing, emphasizing the importance of controlling nuclear spin environments for qubit coherence and functionality.

Contribution

It highlights the significance of nuclear spin environment engineering in semiconductors and synthesizes recent experimental and theoretical progress in this area.

Findings

Nuclear spins can both hinder and help qubit coherence.

Material engineering of nuclear spins is crucial for quantum device performance.

Recent progress demonstrates potential for nuclear spins as quantum memories.

Abstract

Semiconductors are the backbone of modern technology, garnering decades of investment in high quality materials and devices. Electron spin systems in semiconductors, including atomic defects and quantum dots, have been demonstrated in the last two decades to host quantum coherent spin qubits, often with coherent spin-photon interfaces and proximal nuclear spins. These systems are at the center of developing quantum technology. However, new material challenges arise when considering the isotopic composition of host and qubit systems. The isotopic composition governs the nature and concentration of nuclear spins, which naturally occur in leading host materials. These spins generate magnetic noise -- detrimental to qubit coherence -- but also show promise as local quantum memories and processors, necessitating careful engineering dependent on the targeted application. Reviewing recent experimental and theoretical progress towards understanding local nuclear spin environments in semiconductors, we show this aspect of material engineering as critical to quantum information technology.