NSF Convergence Accelerator Track C: Interconnecting Quantum Computers for the Next-Generation Internet

NSF融合加速器支持以使用为灵感，以团队为基础，多学科的努力，解决国家重要性的挑战，并将在不久的将来产生对社会有价值的可交付成果。正如互联网通过实现不同地理位置的无数用户之间的连接，几乎改变了我们生活的方方面面一样，量子互联网也可能产生类似的影响。量子互联网将安全而广泛地将量子计算能力分发给广泛的用户群（学术和非学术）。这些能力可以推动从网络安全、数据分析到医学等各种应用的进步。该计划旨在通过量子互联网合并量子计算机，同时利用当前的互联网基础设施。该计划的主要目标是使被困离子量子计算机能够通过互联网进行通信。主要技术重点包括：i)开发高效量子比特接口，ii)开发芯片级量子可重构加丢多路复用器，以及iii)设计利用硬件实现全尺寸量子网络的协议。该网络将使用镱离子作为存储（数据）量子位，钡离子作为光学（互连）量子位。该项目的重点是开发远程量子计算站点之间的长距离（公里距离）量子互连。因此，中大西洋区域量子互联网（MARQI）网络将形成。此演示将展示超越当前技术水平的安全和匿名通信。通过互联网连接量子计算机的能力将是一项重大的技术进步。计划为公众和工业界开发教育模块，让他们了解量子技术的现状和未来潜力。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。

The NSF Convergence Accelerator supports use-inspired, team-based, multidisciplinary efforts that address challenges of national importance and will produce deliverables of value to society in the near future. Just as the internet has transformed virtually every aspect of our lives by enabling connectivity amongst a myriad of users in different geographical locations, a quantum internet could have a similar impact. A quantum internet would distribute quantum computing capabilities securely and broadly to a broad user base (academic and nonacademic). Those capabilities could enable advances in various applications from cybersecurity, to data analytics, to medicine. This program seeks to merge quantum computers over a quantum internet, whilst leveraging the current internet infrastructure. The primary goal of this program is to enable trapped ion quantum computers to communicate over the internet. The main technical thrusts include: i) developing a high efficiency qubit interface, ii) developing a chip scale quantum reconfigurable add-drop multiplexer, and iii) devising protocols to leverage the hardware to realize a full-scale quantum network. The network will use Ytterbium ions for memory (data) qubits and Barium ions for the optical (interconnect) qubit. This project is focused on developing long range (kilometer distance) quantum interconnects between remote quantum computing sites. As such, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Quantum Internet (MARQI) network, will be formed. This demonstration will show secure and anonymous communication beyond the current state of the art. The ability to connect quantum computers over the internet will provide a major technological advancement. Outreach efforts to develop educational modules for the general public and industry that will educate them on the current state and future potential of quantum technology is planned.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.