Quantum Optics with Atomic Ensembles and Arrays

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。公众可能不太知道的是，利用量子特征的网络可以提供比经典网络更大的优势。基于量子力学原理的量子网络可以提高速度和安全性。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。量子通信网络的基本组成部分是固定节点（物质量子）和光（光子）之间的接口。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被困中性原子的阵列和集合开发光子互连。信息将被处理并存储在原子中，并映射到耦合到光纤中的传播光场上。研究生和本科生的培训和参与是本项目的主要教育目标，为处于不同职业阶段的学生提供相互合作和教师导师的机会，同时学习实验物理、光学、电子和基于计算机的数据采集技术。研究小组将研究利用光的单光子态和捕获的超冷原子来处理量子信息。原子的高激发态（所谓的里德伯态）之间的强相互作用将作为在原子量子比特之间创建量子门的基础，而原子-单光子纠缠将通过激光场的散射来实现。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。该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，这项研究将对推进量子计算和通信、用于导航和磁强计的量子传感器以及原子钟等新兴技术应用的进展产生重大影响。这项研究将包括实验和理论建模两部分。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 networks that make use of quantum features can offer tremendous advantages over their classical counterparts. Quantum networks, based on principles of quantum mechanics, allow for increased speed and security. Such networks, consisting of nodes and interconnecting channels, could revolutionize communication and computation, as well as provide 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. The fundamental building block of a quantum telecommunication network is an interface between the fixed nodes (material quanta) and 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 and ensembles of trapped neutral atoms. Information will be processed and stored in the atoms and mapped onto propagating light fields coupled into optical fibers. Graduate and undergraduate student training and participation are primary educational goals of this project, providing opportunities for students at different career stages to collaborate with one another and faculty mentors, while learning techniques of experimental physics, optics, electronics, and computer-based data acquisition. The research team will investigate quantum information processing using single photon states of light and trapped ultracold atoms. Strong interactions between highly excited states of the atoms (so-called Rydberg states) will serve as the basis for creating quantum gates between atomic qubits, while atom – single photon entanglement will be achieved using scattering of laser fields. This should allow for 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 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 have a significant impact on advancing the progress of emerging technological applications of quantum computation and communication, quantum sensors for navigation and magnetometry, and atomic clocks. The research will involve both experimental and theoretical modeling components.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.