A unique type of light made using an ancient Namibian gemstone could be crucial in the development of new light-based quantum computers, researchers believe.  

In a study led by the University of St Andrews, researchers used a cuprous oxide (Cu2O) gemstone mined in Namibia to produce hybrid particles of light and matter known as ‘Rydberg polaritons’. 

Rydberg polaritons switch back and forth from light to matter. In Rydberg polaritons, light and matter are equivalent to each side of a coin, with the matter side allowing polaritons to interact with each other. 

According to researchers, this interaction facilitates the creation of ‘quantum simulators’, a special type of quantum computer in which information is stored in quantum bits.  

These quantum bits can take any value between 0 and 1, unlike the binary bits in classical computers. This means they are capable of storing much more information and perform several processes at one time.

The future of quantum computing

Long-term, researchers said this capability could allow quantum simulators to solve important mysteries of physics, chemistry and biology – such as how to make high-temperature superconductors for highspeed trains, or to produce more effective pharmaceutical products.  

Project lead Dr Hamid Ohadi, of the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of St Andrews, said the breakthrough could mark a significant moment for the future of quantum computing. 

He commented: “Making a quantum simulator with light is the holy grail of science. We have taken a huge leap towards this by creating Rydberg polaritons, the key ingredient of it.”

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To create Rydberg polaritons, researchers trapped light between two highly reflective mirrors.  

The Namibian gemstone was then thinned and polished to a 30-micrometer thick slab and placed between the two mirrors to make Rydberg polaritons 100 times larger than ever demonstrated before. 

Dr Sai Kiran Rajendran, one of the leading authors of the study, commented: “Purchasing the stone on eBay was easy. The challenge was to make Rydberg polaritons that exist in an extremely narrow colour range.”

The St Andrews team said it is further refining these methods to explore the possibility of making quantum circuits, which are the next ingredient for quantum simulators. 

The research paper, Rydberg exciton-polaritons in a Cu2O microcavity, was published in  Nature Materials.

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