Quantum Electronic Structure at the Interface of Solid Neon and Superfluid Helium

Abstract

We predict a new quantum electronic structure at the interface between two condensed phases of noble-gas elements: solid neon and superfluid helium. An excess electron injected onto this interface self-confines its wavefunction into a nanometric dome structure whose size varies with pressure. A collection of such electrons can form a classical Wigner crystal visualizable by mid-infrared photons. The ultralong spin-coherence time allows the electrons in this system to serve as perfect quantum bits. They can be deterministically arranged on-chip at a spacing of several microns. Their spin states can be controlled and readout by single-electron devices. This unique system offers an appealing new architecture for scalable quantum information processing.