In a silicon carbide crystal, which looks like a transparent stone, there are hidden defects — places where atoms are out of line. One such defect acts as a quantum node: an electron inside it spins and processes information, while the nucleus of a neighboring atom quietly stores it. Previously, these two barely communicated — noise from heat and magnetic fields got in the way.
The authors devised a sequence of radio pulses that makes the electron and nucleus exchange data without losing it. It's like having a conversation in a noisy workshop, yet every word is heard clearly. Using such pulses, they created an entangled state — where two particles are linked so that a change in one instantly affects the other, even at a distance. The accuracy reached 90 percent.
Silicon carbide is already used in power electronics: it withstands high temperatures and voltages. Now the same material could become the foundation for quantum networks: large crystals can be grown from it, and many identical nodes can be made. This is a step toward quantum computers in different cities exchanging information as easily as ordinary servers do today.
Silicon carbide is the same material used for brake discs in sports cars: it's hard and doesn't mind heat.