Scientia Professor Alexander Hamilton from UNSW, Sydney has been awarded nearly $3.8 million from the Australian Research Council (ARC) for the recently launched Industry Laureate Fellowships. As part of the Fellowship, Prof. Hamilton will work with Diraq, who are participating as the industry partner, to explore quantum computing devices that utilise semiconductor holes. 
“Large-scale quantum computers promise unprecedented power with applications ranging from searching large databases for images and video to optimising traffic routing, cryptography, and simulating advanced new materials and drug designs,” Prof. Hamilton said.

The project, titled ‘Unleashing the combined power of electrons and holes for quantum computing’ will create quantum components that can operate thousands of times faster than current approaches. “The project will integrate semiconducting electrons and holes into a single platform, link with industrial partners, and reinforce Australia's leadership position in quantum computing technologies,” Prof. Hamilton said.

Semiconductor holes are positively charged ‘quasiparticle’ that arise due to the absence of an electron. They share similar properties with electrons, but possess an opposite charge and exhibit a different spin. Holes have distinctive physical properties that could potentially allow spin qubits to operate at higher speeds and lower power consumption.

Prof. Hamilton is one of Australia's leading experimental condensed matter physicists. He is head of the Quantum Electronics Devices group at UNSW, Sydney and is Deputy Director of the Australian Research Council Centre for Future Low Energy Electronics (FLEET).

Diraq is thrilled to collaborate with Prof. Hamilton on his Fellowship and extends warm congratulations on this remarkable achievement!