Quantum technology promises to revolutionize computing, communication, and sensing by using the strange behavior of particles at the atomic level.
But turning this promise into real devices requires stable and practical components known as qubits, the quantum version of bits used in today’s computers.
Now, scientists have identified a new type of qubit that could be especially useful—and it’s made from silicon, the same material used in ordinary computer chips.
Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara have discovered a new atomic-scale defect in silicon called the “CN center.”
This tiny imperfection in the crystal structure could act as a robust qubit, capable of storing and transmitting quantum information. Their findings were published in the journal Physical Review B.
Qubits can sometimes be created by deliberately introducing small defects into a crystal. One well-known example is the NV center in diamond, where a nitrogen atom sits next to a missing carbon atom.
These defects can interact with both light and electrons, allowing them to emit single particles of light that carry quantum information. Such light signals are essential for building future quantum communication networks.
Scientists have also been studying a similar defect in silicon known as the T center, which can store quantum information for a long time and emit light in the “telecom band”—the range of wavelengths used in optical fiber cables.
This makes it ideal for transmitting information across long distances.
However, the T center contains hydrogen, which makes it unstable and difficult to manufacture reliably because hydrogen atoms can move around inside the crystal.
The newly identified CN center solves this problem. It consists only of carbon and nitrogen atoms, with no hydrogen involved.
According to the researchers, this makes it more stable and easier to produce in real devices.
Computer simulations showed that the CN center has the key properties needed for quantum technology: it is structurally stable and can emit light at telecom wavelengths, meaning it could work with existing fiber-optic networks.
The team used advanced computational modeling to study the defect at the atomic level before it has even been created in a laboratory. This approach allows scientists to predict how new materials will behave and guides future experiments aimed at building practical devices.
If confirmed experimentally, the CN center could become a crucial component for scalable quantum technologies.
Because it is based on silicon, it could take advantage of the vast global infrastructure already used to manufacture conventional computer chips. This compatibility could speed up the development of quantum devices and make them easier to produce on a large scale.
While quantum computers and communication systems are still in their early stages, discoveries like this bring them closer to reality. By finding stable qubits that work within existing technology, scientists are laying the groundwork for a future where ultra-secure communication, powerful new computers, and advanced sensors become part of everyday life.
