NIRT: Next Generation Atom Chips for Quantum Information Technology

该提案是对NSF 01-157 NIRT类纳米科学与工程倡议的响应。这项工作的重点是探索一种新的量子信息和存储设备-原子芯片。在这种模式下，中性原子悬浮在纳米级载流结构的上方。这项工作将通过研究引入原子芯片的两项重要新技术来推进原子芯片的概念：(1)在原子芯片器件中使用超导材料；(2)研究限制在原子芯片上的里德堡原子的产生和控制的手段和方法。在这项研究中，原子芯片将被用来研究原子-表面相互作用的纳米科学，并探索它们如何用于纳米技术。对于量子信息的应用，原子芯片的工作将涉及两种策略：第一，使用原子系综和集体原子态，如BEC，第二，使用单原子量子控制。为了实现该项目的目标，已经组建了一个由三人组成的跨学科小组，横跨罗切斯特大学的三个学术部门。该奖项由数学和物理科学局的物理和材料研究司和计算机和信息科学与工程局的计算机通信研究司共同资助。

This proposal was received in response to the Nanoscale Science and Engineering initiative, NSF 01-157, category NIRT. The work focuses on the exploration of a new paradigm for a quantum information and storage device, the atom chip. In this paradigm, neutral atoms are suspended above nanofabricated current carrying structures. This work will advance the atom chip concept by investigating two important new technologies for introduction into atom chips: (1) to use superconducting materials in atom chip devices and (2) to investigate means and methods for the creation and control of Rydberg atoms confined on atom chips. In this component of the research the atom chips will be used to study the nano-science of the atom-surface interaction and to explore how they may be used for nano-technology. For application to quantum information, the work on atom chips will address two strategies: First, the use of atomic ensembles and collective atomic states, such as a BEC and, secondly, the use of single atom quantum control. In order to accomplish the goals of the project a three-member interdisciplinary team spanning three academic departments at the University of Rochester has been assembled. This award is jointly funded by the Divisions of Physics and Materials Research in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate and the Division of Computer-Communications Research in the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering.