Trapped ions for quantum information processing

在这个研究项目中，我们使用电磁场隔离和捕获自由空间中的单个原子，并将它们激光冷却到超冷温度。超冷和受限的单原子是探测和理解量子力学行为基础的理想桌面试验台。我们的目标是制备和控制所谓的许多原子的“纠缠”量子叠加态，在这种状态下，原子可以同时以两种不同的物理状态共存。最终目标是利用量子叠加作为一种资源，制造速度更快的计算机。虽然我们还没有完全了解量子计算设备的可能性，但早期的应用和迹象表明，它具有非凡的前景。最后，组装越来越多粒子的量子叠加态将把量子力学的世界从非常小的领域推向我们日常的经典行为领域。这对于理解经典物理学和量子物理学之间的界限至关重要。

In this research project we isolate and trap single atoms in free space using electromagnetic fields and laser-cool them to ultracold temperatures. Ultracold and confined single atoms are an ideal tabletop testbed to probe and understand the foundations of quantum mechanical behavior. We are aiming to prepare and control so-called "entangled" quantum superposition states of many atoms, in which collectively the atoms can apparently coexist in two distinct physical states simultaneously. An ultimate aim is to harness quantum superpositions as a resource for dramatically faster computers. Although we do not yet fully understand the possibilities of a quantum computing device, early applications and hints indicate that it holds remarkable promise. Finally, assembling quantum superpositions of ever larger number of particles will push the world of quantum mechanics up from the very small and closer towards our everyday realm of classical behavior. This is of fundamental importance to understanding the boundary between classical and quantum physics.