Coherence and control of a single electron spin in a quantum dot

Coherence and control of a single electron spin in a quantum dot

Koppens, F.H.L.

Kouwenhoven, L.P. (promotor)

Applied Sciences

2007-10-08

An electron does not only have an electric charge, but also a small magnetic moment, called spin. In a magnetic field, the spin can point in the same direction as the field (spin-up) or in the opposite direction (spin-down). However, the laws of quantum mechanics also allow the spin to exist in both states at the same time (so-called superposition state). The experiments described in this thesis aim at controlling the quantum state of a single electron spin which is confined in a quantum dot. Using the level of control achieved in these experiments, we investigated the properties of one and two-electron spin states, for example by measuring how the environment affects the superposition states. In addition to unraveling these fundamental properties, this research also aims at the development of a so-called quantum bit. This is an important building block for the future (much more powerful) quantum computer.

quantum dots
electron spin
quantum computation
quantum coherence

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:8b5c8525-6966-4614-9b1e-7c3457b44742

Institutional Repository

doctoral thesis

(c) 2007 F.H.L. Koppens