Qubits in Diamond

Diamond. The ideal host for our high-fidelity qubits.
Calibrated once, diamond provides eternal functionality.

The SaxonQ diamond chip contains billions of carbon atoms. Our qubits are made from individual nitrogen atoms that we introduce in a deterministic ion implantation process into the diamond crystal lattice. Every nitrogen atom together with a neighboring missing carbon atom forms a "NV" qubit (nitrogen-vacancy center). Atomic nuclei in the vicinity of the NV center contribute further qubits to the quantum processor. The SaxonQ diamond chip is based on patented technology for implantation of nitrogen with a high yield that enables the fabrication of high-fidelity qubits.

The superior computing capability of a quantum computer is based on two quantum mechanical phenomena that are counter-intuitive to our everyday experience. These are superposition and entanglement. A qubit can have two different well-defined states 0 and 1. This is similar to the states of a classical bit that can be found in any current computer. However, the quantum mechanical superposition means that the qubit can also be in a state where it is at the same time 0 and 1; also known as the “Schrödinger’s cat state”. Superposition releases the quantum computer from basic binary guardrails and this in turn enables vast compute power.

The second quantum mechanical marvel is entanglement. Here, two or more spatially separated qubits are interconnected with each other without direct interaction. Einstein called this non-locality property of quantum mechanics a "spooky interaction at a distance" and did not believe that this phenomenon could be possible. Today this effect is well understood and together with superposition provides the key functionality of the SaxonQ quantum computer.