The study by Ádám Gali, a researcher at the HUN-REN Wigner Research Center for Physics, and his colleagues was named by the editors of the prestigious journal Physical Review Letters as one of the most outstanding publications of 2025 in the field of quantum information and quantum technology, the Hungarian research center announced.
The research focuses on tiny, atomic-scale imperfections in silicon carbide (4H-SiC), which could become reliable building blocks for next-gen quantum technologies. These imperfections in the crystal lattice can trap individual electrons, enabling precise measurement and control of one of their fundamental properties—the spin quantum number, or intrinsic angular momentum.
This capability is indispensable for the operation of quantum computers, quantum sensors, and quantum communication systems,
the announcement emphasizes.
The researchers have now found a solution to a central problem: How can these quantum states be reliably read out, especially at room temperature? The answer is surprisingly “mechanical” in nature: by applying controlled strain to the crystal, the distinguishability of different quantum states can be significantly enhanced. Using this method, a so-called spin readout contrast of over 60% can be achieved, representing a significant step toward practical applications.
This is particularly important because if quantum states cannot be clearly distinguished from one another, the performance of quantum devices, such as sensors, deteriorates significantly. The current result is therefore not only of theoretical importance but can also contribute directly to the development of highly sensitive quantum devices that function even under everyday conditions.
The research was conducted as part of a Hungarian-Chinese collaboration involving Haibo Hu and his colleagues and could open new avenues for next-generation technologies, ranging from quantum communication to biocompatible photonic devices.
The researchers say,
one of the most significant implications of the findings is that they enable the fine-tuning of quantum systems.
This is a very important step toward making quantum technologies—currently still in the experimental stage—widely applicable in the future, the report states.
Ádám Gali, director of the Quantum Information National Laboratory, was recently elected a member of the prestigious Academia Europaea.
Via hun-ren.hu, Featured image: Pixabay
