Amazon & De Beers to Power Quantum Networks With Synthetic Diamonds

Amazon Web Services’ Center for Quantum Networking has joined forces with De Beers Group’s Element Six division to develop synthetic diamonds that can act as a node in quantum networks, according to a blog post from AWS and Element Six.

Researchers will use diamond memory nodes to allow quantum communication to travel long distances without breaking down. The subatomic matter of diamonds makes this advance in data delivery possible.

“The collaboration between AWS and Element Six aims to develop a scalable synthetic diamond solution that could be used to advance the development of quantum technologies -- including secure networks, sensors, or computers -- in the future,” says Daniel Twitchen, executive director of business development and technologies sales at Element Six in an interview with Network Computing.

Because natural diamonds lack the purity to scale quantum memories, researchers are developing synthetic diamonds, according to Bart Machielse, senior research scientist at AWS in an interview with Network Computing.

“The same growth techniques that are used for many materials in the semiconductor industry are used to grow these diamonds,” Machielse says. “These diamonds can be made with levels of purity and in shapes that don’t exist in nature -- making it a powerful tool for optimizing the diamond host for quantum memories.”

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