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A team of researchers has developed a technique to record the quantum mechanical behavior of an individual electron contained within a nanoscale defect in diamond. 

The technique uses ultrafast pulses of laser light both to control the defect's entire quantum state and observe how that single electron state changes over time, according to the press release. 

Findings of the study could bring quantum computing and information processing one step closer. 

In the study, researchers focused on quantum mechanical property of electrons known as spin. The research revolves around a quantum spin system known as nitrogen-vacancy center, an atomic-scale defect found in naturally occurring diamonds. 

"These defects have garnered great interest over the past decade, providing a test-bed system for developing semiconductor quantum bits as well as nanoscale sensors," said research head David Awschalom, a molecular engineering professor at Chicago, in the press release. "Here, we were able to harness light to completely control the quantum state of this defect at extremely high speeds."

Researchers illuminated a single such NV center with two pulses of light from a laser, each less than a millionth of millionth of a second. 

"Our goal was to push the limits of quantum control in these remarkable defect systems," said study participant and co-author Lee Bassett, now a Universty of Pennsylvania electrical engineering professor, "but the technique also provides an exciting new measurement tool."

The study has been published online in Science Express.