Global tech giants Google, IBM and several others are using tens of qubits to prototype quantum computers. Comprising qubits, also known as quantum bits, quantum computers are used to perform a series of calculations. In its present developed state, researchers are actively focused on the use of technologies like – trapped ions, superconducting circuits and semiconductor quantum dots to create the best qubits. After years of significant R&D undertaken by the computer industry, silicon has been found as the ideal material to build and integrate electronic devices.

Drawing on this, The University Of New South Wales’ approach has been to channel their energies into making qubits out of single atoms of phosphorus or quantum dots in silicon -- the material that forms the basis of today's computer chips. Back in 2015, researchers from the University discovered the way to enable quantum computer coding in silicon. Thus, they unveiled its achievement of having built a quantum logic gate in silicon, thereby making calculations between two qubits of information possible.