Objective Electronic and nuclear spins in solids have remarkable coherence properties which makes them ideal qubit candidates for future quantum computers. However, microwave detection and coupling of individual spins remains an outstanding challenge, and this is the main obstacle to their use for quantum computing. The rare earth element erbium (Er) is a very promising candidate for single-spin detection due to its exceedingly large electronic ground-state moment (J=15/2). Furthermore, Er has recently demonstrated 1.3 second hyperfine spin coherence (https://arxiv.org/abs/1611.0431) thus joining a very short list of solid state defects with coherence times of over a second. The Strong Microwave Erbium Coupling (SMERC) proposal aims to use superconducting circuits consisting of resonators and Josephson qubits to detect and couple individual Er spins in crystalline matrices.The superconducting circuits will be designed so as to enhance their magnetic coupling to the individual Er spins. In particular, nanoscale constrictions will be used to concentrate the microwave magnetic field at the Er ion location. This will result in Er-microwave photon coupling constants sufficient to detect a single Er spin within less than a millisecond integration time with microwave signals. Fields of science engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringcomputer hardwarequantum computersnatural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicssuperconductivitynatural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsphotons Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2017 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2017 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinator COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES Net EU contribution € 185 076,00 Address Rue leblanc 25 75015 Paris 15 France See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 185 076,00