Quantum technology with nanofabricated ion trap chips

由于量子计算机等新量子技术的出现，量子力学将实现强大的应用。虽然由于强大的算法的存在，这样的设备可能会提供开创性的商业和国家安全应用，但它的存在将通过允许对系统进行真正的量子模拟来彻底改变现代科学，这些系统可能由于当前计算机技术的原则限制而无法进行经典建模。最近在捕获单原子离子的实验中取得的进展表明，使用这种技术建造量子计算机应该是可能的。一个主要的挑战是将现有的技术扩展到少量量子比特之外。该奖学金将解决复杂阵列中单个原子的操纵问题，作为量子计算机的架构，此外，还将致力于对此类阵列中的大量单个原子进行前所未有的运动控制。单原子离子将被电场捕获，穿梭在一个复杂的陷阱电极阵列中，并使用激光束进行操纵。一旦我们为量子技术创建了这种架构，我们将使用我们开发的工具进行简单的量子模拟。作为这项研究的一部分，我们将开发在阵列内沿沿着复杂路径进行穿梭操作时保留和控制原子的技术。此外，我们将利用尖端的纳米制造技术设计和制造此类阵列。纳米技术的进步将用于设计完整的离子阱芯片架构。最先进纳米技术的应用对于开发原理验证之外的离子量子技术至关重要。

Quantum mechanics will enable powerful applications due to the emergence of new quantum technologies such as the quantum computer. While such a device will likely provide ground breaking commercial and national security applications due to the existence of powerful algorithms, its existence will revolutionize modern day science by allowing true quantum simulations of systems that may be modelled classically only insufficiently due to an in-principle limitation of currentcomputer technology. Recent progress in experiments with trapped single atomic ions shows that it should be possible to build a quantum computer using this technology. A major challenge is the scaling of already existing technology beyond a small number of quantum bits. This fellowship will address the manipulation of single atoms in sophisticated arrays as an architecture for a quantum computer and furthermore, will aim to allow for unprecedented motional control of a large number of single atoms inside such arrays. Single atomic ions will be trapped using electric fields, shuttled inside a complicated array of trap electrodes and manipulated using laser beams. Once we have created this architecture for quantum technology, we will carry out simple quantum simulations using the tools we have developed.As part of this fellowship we will develop techniques to retain and control atoms during shuttling operations along complicated paths inside the array. Furthermore, we will engineer and fabricate such arrays making use of cutting-edge nanofabrication technology. Advances in nanotechnology will be used to engineer complete ion trap chip architectures. The application of state-of-the-art nanotechnology will be vital to develop ion quantum technology beyond proof-of-principle.