MRI: Development of a Programmable Ion-Trap Quantum Computer

量子计算机可以实现即使在最大的数字超级计算机上也无法实现的计算。目前的量子计算机太小，我们无法显示出与传统计算机相比的明显优势。该项目将建立一个32量子比特的量子计算机，这将使科学家和计算机科学家能够测试科学计算的新算法，并开发用于优化和控制量子计算机的新软件工具。该研究仪器将能够发现将未来设备扩展到100个量子比特的方法，量子计算机相对于传统计算机的明显优势有望得到证明。它还将为不断增长的量子信息产业所需的初级科学家和工程师提供培训机会。32量子位量子计算机将由捕获的原子离子构成。量子比特将以镱离子的长相干超精细态存储，离子将使用表面电极离子阱保持。所有的量子位都将被单独寻址，两个量子位门将可能在任何一对之间形成一个完全连接的量子计算机。该仪器的设计借鉴了杜克大学和马里兰大学之前构建离子阱实验的经验。在这个项目中开发的仪器将允许自动执行算法，并将作为物理学家、化学家和材料科学家的研究工具，他们对用量子计算机测试科学计算模型感兴趣，并为计算机科学家和系统工程师测试编程方法和量子抽象。该研究设备将为用户提供完整的访问权限，并使开发难以在商业量子信息设备上测试和实现的新型用户界面成为可能。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Quantum computers enable calculations that are impractical on even the largest digital supercomputer. Current quantum computers are too small for us to show a clear advantage over conventional computers. This project will build a 32 qubit quantum computer that will enable scientists and computer scientists to test new algorithms for scientific computing and develop new software tools for optimizing and controlling quantum computers. This research instrument will enable the discovery of methods for scaling a future device to 100 qubits, where a clear advantage of quantum computers over conventional computers is expected to be demonstrated. It will also provide training opportunities for junior scientists and engineers needed for the growing quantum information industry.The 32 qubit quantum computer will be constructed from trapped atomic ions. The qubits will be stored in the long coherence hyperfine states of Ytterbium ions and the ions will be held using a surface electrode ion trap. All qubits will be individually addressed and two-qubit gates will be possible between any pair forming a fully-connected quantum computer. The instrument design builds off previous experience at Duke University and the University of Maryland constructing ion trap experiments. The instrument developed in this project will allow for automated execution of algorithms and will serve as a research tool for physicists, chemists, and materials scientists interested in testing models of scientific computing with quantum computers and for computer scientists and system engineers to test programming methods and quantum abstractions. The research device will give users complete access and enable the development of novel user interfaces that would be difficult to test and implement on commercial quantum information devices.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.