We identify the presence of monatomic steps at the Si/SiGe or Si/SiO2 interface as a dominant source of variations in the dephasing time of silicon (Si) quantum dot (QD) spin qubits. First, using atomistic tight-binding calculations we show that the g-factors and their Stark shifts undergo variations due to these steps. We compare our theoretical predictions with experiments on QDs at a Si/SiO2 interface, in which we observe significant differences in Stark shifts between QDs in two different samples. We also experimentally observe variations in the g-factors of one-electron and three-electron spin qubits realized in three neighboring QDs on the same sample, at a level consistent with our calculations. The dephasing times of these qubits also vary, most likely due to their varying sensitivity to charge noise, resulting from different interface conditions. More importantly, from our calculations we show that by employing the anisotropic nature of the spin-orbit interaction (SOI) in a Si QD, we can minimize and control these variations. Ultimately, we predict that the dephasing times of the Si QD spin qubits will be anisotropic and can be improved by at least an order of magnitude, by aligning the external dc magnetic field towards specific crystal directions, given other decoherence mechanisms do not dominate over charge noise.

@en

We investigate the effect of the valley degree of freedom on Pauli-spin blockade readout of spin qubits in silicon. The valley splitting energy sets the singlet-triplet splitting and thereby constrains the detuning range. The valley phase difference controls the relative strength of the intra- and intervalley tunnel couplings, which, in the proposed Pauli-spin blockade readout scheme, couple singlets and polarized triplets, respectively. We find that high conversion fidelity is possible for a wide range of phase differences, while taking into account experimentally observed valley splittings and tunnel couplings. We also show that the control of the valley splitting together with the optimization of the readout detuning can compensate the effect of the valley phase difference. To increase the measurement fidelity and extend the relaxation time we propose a latching protocol that requires a triple quantum dot and exploits weak long-range tunnel coupling. These opportunities are promising for scaling spin qubit systems and improving qubit readout fidelity.

@en

Valence band holes confined in silicon quantum dots are attracting significant attention for use as spin qubits. However, experimental studies of single-hole spins have been hindered by challenges in fabrication and stability of devices capable of confining a single hole. To fully utilize hole spins as qubits, it is crucial to have a detailed understanding of the spin and orbital states. Here we show a planar silicon metal-oxide-semiconductor-based quantum dot device and demonstrate operation down to the last hole. Magneto-spectroscopy studies show magic number shell filling consistent with the Fock–Darwin states of a circular two-dimensional quantum dot, with the spin filling sequence of the first six holes consistent with Hund’s rule. Next, we use pulse-bias spectroscopy to determine that the orbital spectrum is heavily influenced by the strong hole–hole interactions. These results provide a path towards scalable silicon hole-spin qubits.

@en

The understanding of weak measurements and interaction-free measurements has greatly expanded the conceptual and experimental toolbox to explore the quantum world. Here we demonstrate single-shot variable-strength weak measurements of the electron and nuclear spin states of a P31 single-atom donor in silicon. We first show how the partial collapse of the nuclear spin due to measurement can be used to coherently rotate the spin to a desired pure state. We explicitly demonstrate that phase coherence is preserved with high fidelity throughout multiple sequential single-shot weak measurements and that the partial state collapse can be reversed. Second, we use the relation between measurement strength and perturbation of the nuclear state as a physical meter to extract the tunnel rates between the P31 donor and a nearby electron reservoir from data conditioned on observing no tunneling events. Our experiments open avenues to measurement-based state preparation, steering and feedback protocols for spin systems in the solid state, and highlight the fundamental connection between information gain and state modification in quantum mechanics.

@en

We theoretically model the spin-orbit interaction in silicon quantum dot devices, relevant for quantum computation and spintronics. Our model is based on a modified effective mass approach which properly accounts for spin-valley boundary conditions, derived from the interface symmetry, and should have applicability for other heterostructures. We show how the valley-dependent interface-induced spin-orbit 2D (3D) interaction, under the presence of an electric field that is perpendicular to the interface, leads to a g-factor renormalization in the two lowest valley states of a silicon quantum dot. These g-factors can change with electric field in opposite direction when intervalley spin-flip tunneling is favored over intravalley processes, explaining recent experimental results. We show that the quantum dot level structure makes only negligible higher order effects to the g-factor. We calculate the g-factor as a function of the magnetic field direction, which is sensitive to the interface symmetry. We identify spin-qubit dephasing sweet spots at certain directions of the magnetic field, where the g-factor renormalization is zeroed: these include perpendicular to the interface magnetic field, and also in-plane directions, the latter being defined by the interface-induced spin-orbit constants. The g-factor dependence on electric field opens the possibility for fast all-electric manipulation of an encoded, few electron spin qubit, without the need of a nanomagnet or a nuclear spin-background. Our approach of an almost fully analytic theory allows for a deeper physical understanding of the importance of spin-orbit coupling to silicon spin qubits.

@en

Semiconductor spins are one of the few qubit realizations that remain a serious candidate for the implementation of large-scale quantum circuits. Excellent scalability is often argued for spin qubits defined by lithography and controlled via electrical signals, based on the success of conventional semiconductor integrated circuits. However, the wiring and interconnect requirements for quantum circuits are completely different from those for classical circuits, as individual direct current, pulsed and in some cases microwave control signals need to be routed from external sources to every qubit. This is further complicated by the requirement that these spin qubits currently operate at temperatures below 100 mK. Here, we review several strategies that are considered to address this crucial challenge in scaling quantum circuits based on electron spin qubits. Key assets of spin qubits include the potential to operate at 1 to 4 K, the high density of quantum dots or donors combined with possibilities to space them apart as needed, the extremely long-spin coherence times, and the rich options for integration with classical electronics based on the same technology.@en

The electrical control of single spin qubits based on semiconductor quantum dots is of great interest for scalable quantum computing since electric fields provide an alternative mechanism for qubit control compared with magnetic fields and can also be easier to produce. Here we outline the mechanism for a drastic enhancement in the electrically-driven spin rotation frequency for silicon quantum dot qubits in the presence of a step at a heterointerface. The enhancement is due to the strong coupling between the ground and excited states which occurs when the electron wave function overcomes the potential barrier induced by the interface step. We theoretically calculate single qubit gate times tπ of 170 ns for a quantum dot confined at a silicon/silicon-dioxide interface. The engineering of such steps could be used to achieve fast electrical rotation and entanglement of spin qubits despite the weak spin-orbit coupling in silicon.

@en

Recent advances in quantum error correction codes for fault-Tolerant quantum computing and physical realizations of high-fidelity qubits in multiple platforms give promise for the construction of a quantum computer based on millions of interacting qubits. However, the classical-quantum interface remains a nascent field of exploration. Here, we propose an architecture for a silicon-based quantum computer processor based on complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology. We show how a transistor-based control circuit together with charge-storage electrodes can be used to operate a dense and scalable two-dimensional qubit system. The qubits are defined by the spin state of a single electron confined in quantum dots, coupled via exchange interactions, controlled using a microwave cavity, and measured via gate-based dispersive readout. We implement a spin qubit surface code, showing the prospects for universal quantum computation. We discuss the challenges and focus areas that need to be addressed, providing a path for large-scale quantum computing.

@en

We define single electron spin qubits in a silicon metal-oxide-semiconductor double quantum dot system. By mapping the qubit resonance frequency as a function of a gate-induced electric field, the spectrum reveals an anticrossing that is consistent with an intervalley spin-orbit coupling. We fit the data from which we extract an intervalley coupling strength of 43 MHz. In addition, we observe a narrow resonance near the primary qubit resonance when we operate the device in the (1,1) charge configuration. The experimental data are consistent with a simulation involving two weakly exchanged-coupled spins with a Zeeman energy difference of 1 MHz, of the same order as the Rabi frequency. We conclude that the narrow resonance is the result of driven transitions between the T- and T+ triplet states, using an electron spin resonance signal of frequency located halfway between the resonance frequencies of the two individual spins. The findings presented here offer an alternative method of implementing two-qubit gates, of relevance to the operation of larger-scale spin qubit systems.

@en