China's quest for a quantum leap: New material may revolutionize quantum computing

Friday - January 26 2024, 11:29 UTC - 10 months ago

Scientists in China have discovered a new material, 'supersolid', that can potentially revolutionize quantum computing. This development is crucial for China as it heavily relies on helium imports, mainly from the US. The shortage of helium has been a major challenge for China's quantum technology ambitions, but this discovery offers a potential solution. While there are still limitations to its applications, this breakthrough marks a new frontier in achieving ultra-cold temperatures for quantum technologies.

In the midst of an ongoing US-China tech war, China has announced a major breakthrough in the field of quantum computing. A team of scientists, led by researchers from a Chinese Academy of Sciences laboratory in Beijing, have discovered a new material with the potential to revolutionize quantum computing.

This development is particularly significant for China, a country heavily reliant on helium imports - a crucial component in hi-tech applications. With the growing demand for helium, especially helium-3 which is used in extreme conditions, China is facing the risk of restricted access as tensions escalate between the two countries. This is due to the fact that the US and Russia, the main suppliers of helium to China, are also key players in the tech rivalry.

In response to this challenge, the international research team embarked on a mission to find a solid material that could achieve significant energy changes and transition between states. After extensive experimentation, they discovered a cobalt-based quantum magnetic material which they've termed as the "supersolid". This material exhibits both solid and fluidic characteristics, making it a promising alternative coolant for quantum computing.

The material has been shown to cool to temperatures below one Kelvin, which has significant implications for advancing technologies such as quantum computing. Ultra-low temperatures ranging from 0 to 4.2 Kelvin are necessary for certain quantum technologies to function properly. As Professor Sun Peijie from the Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics stated, this discovery marks a new frontier in achieving ultra-cold temperatures using solid-state materials.

The dependence on helium, especially helium-3, poses a major challenge for China's quantum technology ambitions. In 2022, 94% of China's helium was imported, further emphasizing the nation's reliance on other countries for this precious resource. The breakthrough made by the research team offers a theoretical path to achieving extremely low temperatures without relying on helium, which could potentially alleviate this issue for China.

Quantum technology is crucial for China's efforts in areas such as quantum communication and computing. However, the nation has faced challenges in obtaining the necessary technology, particularly dilution refrigerators required for maintaining an ultra-cold environment. Despite significant investments and national support, securing this key technology has proven to be difficult.

While the researchers have been successful in replicating and applying their experiments in specific environments, there are still limitations to the potential applications of the new material. Professor Sun Peijie noted that the material currently needs to be used in an environment already at around four Kelvin, and there are still engineering challenges that need to be overcome before widespread practical use becomes feasible.

Apart from the technological implications, this breakthrough also serves as a starting point for further discussions and research. As the world grapples with the global helium shortage and its impact on various industries, the discovery of this new material holds the potential to ease tensions in the ongoing US-China tech rivalry.