Ruairí Lowery

• Modelling Colour-Centres in Diamond – Evaluation of Defects Operating as Quantum-Bits
• MPhys Theoretical Physics

The development of Quantum Computing has had far-reaching potential in many applications, from cybersecurity to "big data" problems, due to its ability to solve problems in only a fraction of a second that might take a conventional computer billions of years.

While a conventional computer is comprised of 'bits' of information that can be either 1 or 0, a quantum computer is comprised of quantum bits (qubits) that can be simultaneously 1 and 0. These qubits, however, need a physical support to exist, like how a bit needs a transistor. These come in many different forms, with different operating mechanisms, each having advantages and drawbacks. One such physical support is called a colour centre.

Using quantum mechanical modelling software run via a high-performance computing system, this project explores a variety of potential colour centres to determine which ones may be viable for use in a quantum computer.

Funded by: Newcastle University Reseach Scholarship

Project Supervisor: Dr Jon Goss