Researchers control and read a single molecular qubit

Researchers at NVision Quantum Technologies controlled and read the quantum state of an individual molecule, preserving its spin's quantum properties for around 2.2 milliseconds, Phys.org reported on research published in Nature. The molecule's emitted light maintained stable frequencies for more than one hour. The team cooled a crystal to 4.5 Kelvin and used lasers to create carbene molecules, whose unpaired electrons store quantum information. Microwave pulses controlled their spin, while lasers read the results. Linking these molecules to photons for quantum networks remains a future application.