Nuclear magnetic resonance quantum computer

Nuclear magnetic resonance quantum computing (NMRQC) is one of the several proposed approaches for constructing a quantum computer, that uses the spin states of nuclei within molecules as qubits. The quantum states are probed through the nuclear magnetic resonances, allowing the system to be implemented as a variation of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. NMR differs from other implementations of quantum computers in that it uses an ensemble of systems, in this case molecules, rather than a single pure state. Initially the approach was to use the spin properties of atoms of particular molecules in a liquid sample as qubits - this is known as liquid state NMR (LSNMR). This approach has since been superseded by solid state NMR (SSNMR) as a means of quantum computation. The ideal picture of liquid state NMR (LSNMR) quantum information processing (QIP) is based on a molecule in which some of its atom's nuclei behave as spin-1⁄2 systems. Depending on which nuclei we are considering they will have different energy levels and different interaction with its neighbours and so we can treat them as distinguishable qubits. In this system we tend to consider the inter-atomic bonds as the source of interactions between qubits and exploit these spin-spin interactions to perform 2-qubit gates such as CNOTs that are necessary for universal quantum computation. In addition to the spin-spin interactions native to the molecule an external magnetic field can be applied (in NMR laboratories) and these impose single qubit gates. By exploiting the fact that different spins will experience different local fields we have control over the individual spins. The picture described above is far from realistic since we are treating a single molecule. NMR is performed on an ensemble of molecules, usually with as many as 10^15 molecules. This introduces complications to the model, one of which is introduction of decoherence. In particular we have the problem of an open quantum system interacting with a macroscopic number of particles near thermal equilibrium (~mK to ~300 K).

Preparation and characterization of Poly(Ethylene Glycol)/gamma-CD Polyrotaxanes using beta-CD derivatives as a capping reagent

Blaise Tardy

As living systems understanding got better, as life could be modeled in a batch, using immortalized cells, researches in fundamental sciences found startling applications of advanced techniques on living systems. As the biomaterial field developed various molecules were found to have very interesting applications on living systems. Polyrotaxane is one of these particularly interesting molecules. It is a non covalently bonded molecular necklace produced by the threading of cyclic molecules onto a linear polymer in order to form a pseudopolyrotaxane, the capping of this pseudopolyrotaxane to avoid de-threading of the cyclic compounds forms a polyrotaxane. This compound has already proven its versatility through various application including drug delivery systems, DNA delivery agent, molecular machine, hydrogel building block, resin stabilizer and a lot more. Cyclodextrins (CDs) and Polyester are known to form a pseudopolyrotaxane. CDs are composed of 6 to 8 glucopyranose forming a toroid shaped molecule that can contain different molecules depending on the solvent, experimental conditions and the number of sugar subunits. In this project an attempt has been made to synthesize a special type of polyrotaxane that would allow the whole complex to bare a higher degree of freedom compared to the ones currently documented. In order to do so the widest CD has been used (Gamma-CD, GCD), the chosen host has been poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains of varying molecular weight and the capping reagent used was beta-CD derivatives. Furthermore since current literature hasn't documented it so well and its properties are essential to this study, some more characterization of the PEG/GCD pseudopolyrotaxane has been made. The Macromolecules have been characterized by maldi tof mass spectroscopy(MALDI-T-MS), electro spray ionization (ESI) mass detection, X-ray diffraction(XRD), gel phase chromatography (GPC) and liquid Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The beta CD and poly(ethylene glycol) derivatives have been characterized using Fourier transform infra red spectroscopy (FTIR), NMR, MALDI-Toff MS, ESI and thin layer Chromatography (TLC)

2009

Preparation and characterization of Poly(Ethylene Glycol)/gamma-CD Polyrotaxanes using beta-CD derivatives as a capping reagent

Blaise Tardy

2009