Coulomb blockade in microscopic material defects as a source of decoherence and noise in solid-state quantum circuits

Decoherence and noise in solid-state quantum circuits can be attributed to microscopic material defects, specifically Coulomb blockade. These defects introduce numerous sources of loss, hindering the development of reliable quantum devices. Researchers have struggled to link decoherence mechanisms to their material origins, a crucial step in creating effective mitigation strategies. The presence of uncontrolled surfaces, interfaces, and structural imperfections in solid-state materials gives rise to various sources of decoherence, ultimately limiting the performance of quantum devices¹. Understanding the role of microscopic material defects is essential for the advancement of quantum computing, as it can inform the design of more robust and reliable quantum circuits. The development of quantum computing has significant implications for cryptography and computation, making it critical to address the challenges posed by material defects. So what matters to practitioners is that mitigating decoherence caused by material defects is essential to unlock the full potential of quantum computing.