Who says that diamonds only appeal to women? Surprisingly, they are also very popular among scientific researchers, who have found a way to exploit this amazing stone to create something extraordinary.
Recently, an international research group created an extremely powerful computer precisely by exploiting the unique properties of diamonds. The new quantum computer designed by the CNR can perform ultrafast calculations thanks to diamond-based quBits.
I know it may all seem too technical, but let’s deep into the future together.
Apparently, it’s all about defects.
In order to create powerful quBits, the research team managed to use a peculiarity of diamonds, known as a defect, to improve the computer’s performance. Usually, in the lattice of carbon atoms that composes a diamond there are two adjacent atoms. However, small natural changes may happen, leaving only a nitrogen atom and then a ‘vacancy’ in the structure.
And there is where science comes in!
Using a specific laser, the team was able to modify the physical characteristics of diamonds, connecting their defects to create particularly powerful quBits.
Everything okay up here?
Great, so let’s have a look at their applications.
According to scientists, the practical application of this discovery is very diverse. A quantum computer made up of quBits written in diamond performs faster calculations to solve problems with a large number of variables. They are related for example to the study of climate change, stock market forecasts, or biomedicine. Moreover, these quBits make it possible to identify individual molecules by studying their dynamics and structure, which is fundamental for life sciences. This is why researchers are strongly committed to studying a system that could break all records in magnetic sensitivity, providing much more precise images than those provided by nuclear magnetic resonance.
Interesting isn’t it? But are these computers accessible to everyone?
A diamond computer is not unaffordable because the diamonds used are synthetic and this choice reduces drastically the costs. The project which started a few years ago has enabled researchers to deepen the research on diamonds, but there is still a need for a final human and financial effort in order to complete this promising and innovative project, which has so far brought excellent results and great satisfaction to the technological field.
