Building a spin quantum bit register using semiconductor nanowires

This paper reviews recent advances in engineering spin quantum bits (qubits) in semiconductor quantum dots and describes an approach based on top-gated semiconductor nanowire devices. Fast electrical single-spin manipulation is achievable, in principle, using the spin-orbit interaction intrinsic to III-V materials, such as InAs, in concert with AC electric fields. Combined with sub-nanosecond gate control of the nearest-neighbor exchange interaction and spin readout by spin-to-charge conversion, a fully electrical solid-state quantum processor is within reach. We outline strategies for spin manipulation, robust readout and mitigation of decoherence due to nuclear fields that, when combined in a single device, should give a viable multi-qubit testbed and a building block for larger scale quantum devices.