A Coherent Single-Hole Spin in a Semiconductor

Abstract

A Hole New Approach Quantum dots can behave as artificial atoms, exhibiting a ladder of quantized energy levels with the number of electrons added to the dot being controllable. They are thus being extensively studied for application in the likes of quantum information processing strategies. However, the electrons interact with their environment and quickly lose their coherence properties. Brunner et al. (p. 70 ; see the Perspective by Kolodrubetz and Petta ) now show that if the charge of the dot is manipulated so that it is positive; that is, populated with a single hole, then the coherence properties of the dot can be extended. The strategy of using holes instead of electrons may provide a solution to the decoherence problem.