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Oxford physicists use hybrid quantum computer to probe Aharonov–Bohm effect

Using trapped-ion qubits and quantum interference, researchers stopped a particle's tunneling by applying a magnetic field the particle never crossed.

By Standard Topic. AI-generated from the reporting listed under Coverage. Published . Updated .

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What happened

Physicists at the University of Oxford used a hybrid quantum computer built from qubits and quantum oscillators to observe the Aharonov–Bohm effect in a quantum simulation. A later report said the team used quantum interference and trapped-ion qubits to stop a quantum particle from tunneling, using a magnetic field the particle never touched.

Why it matters

The reports describe the work as observing a foundational quantum effect in a new setting.

Timeline

  1. Oct 10, 6:57 AM ET: Oxford physicists observed the Aharonov–Bohm effect in a quantum simulation run on a hybrid quantum computer made of qubits and quantum oscillators.
  2. Oct 11, 11:30 AM ET: Oxford physicists used quantum interference and trapped-ion qubits to halt particle tunneling with a magnetic field the particle never crossed.

Coverage

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