Quantum machine

[1][2] However, as highlighted by the Schrödinger's cat thought experiment, quantum effects are not readily observable in large-scale objects.

[citation needed] Consequently, quantum states of motion have only been observed in special circumstances at extremely low temperatures.

[3] Researchers created the first quantum machine in 2009, and the achievement was named the "Breakthrough of the Year" by Science in 2010.

The first quantum machine was created on August 4, 2009, by Aaron D. O'Connell while pursuing his Ph.D. under the direction of Andrew N. Cleland and John M. Martinis at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

O'Connell and his colleagues coupled together a mechanical resonator, similar to a tiny springboard, and a qubit, a device that can be in a superposition of two quantum states at the same time.

[a] Previous teams of researchers had struggled with this stage, as a 1 MHz resonator, for example, would need to be cooled to the extremely low temperature of 50 μK.

[5] The film bulk acoustic resonator was made of piezoelectric material, so that as it oscillated its changing shape created a changing electric signal, and conversely an electric signal could affect its oscillations.

[8] This means the resonator "literally vibrated a little and a lot at the same time", according to the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

The quantum machine, developed by Aaron D. O'Connell . The mechanical resonator is located to the lower left of the coupling capacitor (small white square). The qubit is connected to upper right of the coupling capacitor.
Scanning electron micrograph of the film bulk acoustic resonator . The mechanically active part of the resonator is supported to the left by two metal leads which act as electrical connections.