Photonic Connections for Neutral-Atoms Quantum Processors

大多数人都熟悉电信网络，连接我们的计算机和移动设备的网络。一般公众可能不太知道的是，量子网络可以提供比经典网络更大的优势。量子网络利用了量子力学原理，从而提高了速度和安全性。这种由节点和相互连接的通道组成的网络可以彻底改变通信和计算，并为物理和生物学中的复杂系统建模提供了一种新的方法。该网络的固定节点（量子存储元素）可以使用被捕获原子形式的物质来实现，这些原子能够将复杂的量子编码信息存储数秒。光可以用来连接节点，沿着光纤携带量子通信信号。因此，量子通信网络的基本组成部分涉及到将固定节点（物质量子）和光（光子）连接起来。为了利用网络的量子特性，有必要以一种独特的量子方式耦合节点，称为量子纠缠。该项目将重点展示产生这种远程纠缠的新能力，作为分布式量子信息处理的资源。该项目的一个主要目标是为捕获的中性原子阵列开发光子互连。信息将被处理并存储在原子阵列中，并映射到耦合到光纤中的传播光场上。拟议的研究计划将研究使用单光子态和捕获超冷原子的量子信息处理。原子里德伯能级的强相互作用将作为在原子量子位之间创建量子门的基础，而原子-单光子纠缠将利用激光场的拉曼散射来实现。这将允许可扩展地生成和操纵涉及原子量子比特和单光子的复杂纠缠态。该方案的实现还将导致利用光纤在长距离上有效地分配纠缠的多粒子量子态。计划中的活动将有助于远程量子中继器和分布式量子计算的未来实现。多量子位纠缠态的有效产生将影响基础物理研究和推进量子增强测量技术。在此过程中，这项研究将影响量子计算和通信，导航和磁力测量的量子传感器以及原子钟等新兴技术应用的进展。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。

Most everyone is familiar with telecommunication networks, networks that link our computers and mobile devices. What might be less known to the general public is that quantum networks can offer tremendous advantages over their classical counterparts. Quantum networks make use of principles of quantum mechanics, which allow for increased speed and security. Such networks, consisting of nodes and interconnecting channels, could revolutionize communication and computation, as well as providing a new means for modeling complex systems in physics and biology. The network’s fixed nodes (quantum memory elements) can be implemented using matter in the form of trapped atoms that are able to store complex, quantum encoded messages for many seconds. Light can be used to connect the nodes, carrying quantum communication signals along optical fibers. As a consequence, the fundamental building block of a quantum telecommunication network involves interfacing the fixed nodes (material quanta) with light (photons). To exploit the quantum properties of the network, it is necessary to couple the nodes in a uniquely quantum manner, referred to as quantum entanglement. This project will focus on demonstrating new capabilities for generation of such remote entanglement, to be used as a resource for distributed quantum information processing. A major goal of the project is to develop photonic interconnects for arrays of trapped neutral atoms. Information will be processed and stored in the atomic arrays and mapped onto propagating light fields coupled into optical fibers. The proposed research program will investigate quantum information processing using single photon states and trapped ultracold atoms. Strong interactions of atomic Rydberg levels will serve as the basis for creating quantum gates between atomic qubits, while atom – single photon entanglement will be achieved using Raman scattering of laser fields. This should allow for a scalable generation and manipulation of complex entangled states involving both atomic qubits and single photons. Realization of this program will also lead to efficient distribution of entangled many-particle quantum states over long distances using optical fibers. The planned activity will contribute to the future implementations of long-distance quantum repeaters and distributed quantum computing. Efficient production of multi-qubit entangled states will impact fundamental physics investigations and advance quantum-enhanced measurement techniques. In doing so, this research will impact progress of emerging technological applications of quantum computation and communication, quantum sensors for navigation and magnetometry, and atomic clocks.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.