EAGER: BRAIDING: Braiding Majorana bound states in atomic chains on a superconducting island

摘要：一维拓扑超导体的马约拉纳束缚态是局域化的。这些激发被视为拓扑量子信息处理的起点。该奖项支持旨在解决与建立马约拉纳州控制相关的关键挑战的实验研究活动。这种特殊的实现避免了与物理移动马约拉纳束缚态相关的技术挑战，并且由于超导岛的小尺寸，具有防止错误的内在保护。如果成功，这项研究活动有可能在量子科学与技术领域取得变革性突破。该项目的研究方面伴随着一个面向研究生和本科生的多方面教育计划，以及针对帕萨迪纳学区高中生和科学教师的拓展计划。该项目的研究进展将通过研究文章、研讨会、课程和公开讲座广泛传播。技术摘要：该奖项支持旨在展示基于马约拉纳束缚态的拓扑量子比特的实验工作，该量子比特是在集成到介观干涉仪电路中的超导岛上的磁原子链中实现的。在该方案中，读取马约拉纳态编码的量子信息并执行量子逻辑运算可以通过使用干涉测量法测量电子宇称来完成。这种特殊的实现结合了理论建议的优点，避免了与物理移动马约拉纳束缚态相关的技术挑战，以及对准粒子中毒的内在保护，准粒子中毒被认为是拓扑量子系统相干时间的主要限制因素。为了实现这个实验平台，我们将探索几种利用扫描探针显微镜将原子组件集成到纳米介观干涉仪设备中的方法。如果成功，这项高度集中的研究活动有可能在量子科学和技术领域取得变革性突破。该项目的研究方面伴随着一个面向研究生和本科生的多方面教育计划，以及针对帕萨迪纳学区高中生和科学教师的拓展计划。该项目的研究进展将通过研究文章、研讨会、课程和公开讲座广泛传播。

Non-technical Abstract:Majorana bound states are localized at the edge of a one-dimensional topological superconductor. These excitations are viewed as a starting point for topological quantum information processing. This award supports experimental research activity aiming to address the key challenges related to establishing control of Majorana bound states. This particular implementation avoids technical challenges related to physically moving Majorana bound states and, due to the small size of the superconducting island, has intrinsic protection against errors. If successful, this research activity has a potential to make transformative breakthrough in the field of quantum science and technology. The research aspect of this project is accompanied by a multifaceted educational program for graduate and undergraduate students as well as outreach program targeting high-school students and science teachers from the Pasadena School District. The research advances of the project will be broadly disseminated through research articles, seminars, courses and public lectures. Technical Abstract:This award supports experimental efforts aiming towards a demonstration of a topological quantum bit based on Majorana bound states realized in magnetic atomic chains placed on a superconducting island which is integrated into a mesoscopic interferometer circuit. In this scheme, reading out the quantum information encoded in Majorana states and performing quantum logical operations can be done by measuring electron parity using interferometry. This particular implementation combines the advantages of theoretical proposals which avoid technical challenges related to physically moving Majorana bound states with intrinsic protection against the quasi-particle poisoning which is considered to be major limiting factor for the coherence times of topological quantum systems. In order to realize this experimental platform several approaches for integration of atomic assemblies accessible using scanning probe microscopy into a nano-fabricated mesoscopic interferometer device will be explored. If successful, this highly focused research activity has a potential to make transformative breakthrough in the fields of quantum science and technology. The research aspect of this project is accompanied by a multifaceted educational program for graduate and undergraduate students as well as outreach program targeting high-school students and science teachers from the Pasadena School District. The research advances of the project will be broadly disseminated through research articles, seminars, courses and public lectures.