Quantum simulation and quantum information technology with trapped ions

这项提议的重点是使用激光冷却的囚禁离子在新兴的量子信息科学领域中的应用。实验将专注于控制与自然界量子力学定律相关的不寻常和违反直觉的行为，并利用这些现象在物理和信息技术中进行新的应用。最终的潜在目标是为一种完全不同、潜在功能强大的基于量子原理的计算设备开发基础。 达到容错量子计算所需的复杂性和低错误水平是一项正在进行的全球研究工作，但到目前为止开发的激光和离子陷阱技术提供了在短期内将它们应用于更专业、可能要求较低的应用的机会。这里提出的研究旨在利用被捕获的Yb离子来构建一个小型的量子模拟器，目的是在单原子水平上研究模型量子材料。特别是，实验将探索使用一维阵列中捕获的离子来模拟有效磁自旋的网络。自旋之间的相互作用将通过定制施加到离子上的激光感应力来实现。通过这些研究目标，我们还计划与其他离子捕获小组合作，为离子陷阱量子信息技术的发展做出贡献。该研究计划将利用桑迪亚国家实验室的微制造离子捕获技术，着眼于未来的应用，拥有更多的离子和更复杂的控制。 量子信息技术具有革命性的影响，跨越了几个现代关注的领域，包括通信安全、计算加速和量子材料研究。由这笔赠款实现的实验将在任何正在研究信息的量子力学操作的地方产生潜在的影响，例如纳米技术领域。

This proposal is focused on the use of laser-cooled, trapped ions for applications in the emerging field of quantum information science. Experiments will focus on controlling the unusual and counterintuitive behaviour associated with the quantum mechanical laws of nature, and on harnessing such phenomena for new applications in physics and information technology. The ultimate, underlying goal is to develop the building blocks for a radically different and potentially powerful computing device that is based on quantum principles. Achieving the level of complexity and low errors required for fault-tolerant quantum computing is an ongoing worldwide research effort, but the laser and ion-trap technologies which have been developed so far offer the opportunity to apply them to more specialized and potentially less demanding applications in the nearer term. The research proposed here aims to use trapped Ytterbium ions to construct a small-scale quantum simulator, with the purpose of studying model "quantum materials" at the level of single atoms. In particular, experiments will explore the use of ions trapped in one-dimensional arrays to simulate a network of effective magnetic spins. Mutual interactions between the spins will be engineered by tailoring laser-induced forces applied to the ions. Through these research goals, we also plan to contribute to the development of ion-trap quantum information technology in concert and collaboration with other ion-trapping groups. The research program will make use of micro-fabricated ion trapping technology from Sandia National Laboratories, with an eye towards future applications with more ions and more sophisticated control. Quantum information technology has revolutionary implications that span several modern areas of concern, including communications security, computational speed-up, and quantum materials research. The experiments enabled by this grant will have the potential for impact wherever quantum mechanical manipulation of information is being investigated, such as the area of nanotechnology.