Quantum processing element and system

A method for controlling operation of a quantum processing system, the quantum processing system comprising one or more functional nanowires, a sensing nanowire spaced from the one or more functional nanowires, one or more first gate electrodes capacitively coupled with each of the one or more functional nanowires and one or more second gate electrodes capacitively coupled with the sensing nanowire, one or more floating electrostatic coupling gates positioned between and electrostatically coupling the one or more functional nanowires and the sensing nanowire, the one or more floating electrostatic coupling gates being partially overlapped with each of the one or more functional nanowires and the sensing nanowire, and a controller connected to the one or more second gate electrodes of the sensing nanowire and the one or more first gate electrodes of the one or more functional nanowires, the method comprising:

• at the controller, receiving a current reading from the sensing nanowire;
• determining a first biasing voltage to be applied to the one or more second gate electrodes of the sensing nanowire based on the received current reading;
• determining a second biasing voltage to be applied to the one or more first gate electrodes of the one or more functional nanowires based on the received current reading;
• causing the determined first biasing voltage to be applied to the one or more second gate electrodes of the sensing nanowire;
• and
• causing the determined second biasing voltage to be applied to the one or more first gate electrodes of the one or more functional nanowires;
• wherein the first biasing voltage and the second biasing voltage are determined such that a sensing quantum dot is formed in the sensing nanowire, one or more functional quantum dots are formed in the one or more functional nanowires and the sensing quantum dot senses charge transition events in each of the one or more functional quantum dots.