Single spins in silicon see the light

摘要

The relentless drive to scale down semiconductor devices, which are at the heart of computers, tablets and video game consoles, has long been predicted to hit a brick wall when atomic dimensions are reached. However, with smaller devices also comes increased access to new functionalities, which can be based on the control of single atoms and atomic defects1. Access to properties other than the commonly used electric charge of electrons in a semiconductor, such as the spin of electrons and nuclei, is a possible route to improved device performance, and perhaps even to quantum computing2. Indeed, researchers have demonstrated3 robust control of the spin of an electron bound to a single phosphorus atom in silicon. In this issue, Yin et al.4 (page 91) describe another exciting advance in spin control - the spin-selective optical addressing' of a single atom in silicon.