Ultrafast quantum logic gates with trapped ions

量子计算是物理学和计算机科学中一个快速发展的理论和实验研究领域。一些重要的计算任务将在量子计算机上执行得更快；此外，对物理学、材料科学、化学和生物科学非常重要的复杂系统可以在量子计算机上有效地建模，而普通计算机则无法做到这一点。在量子计算机的许多可能实现中，被捕获、激光冷却的原子离子系统迄今为止显示出最大的前景。在这里，信息通过射频陷阱存储在自由空间中单个离子的能级中，而逻辑操作（“门”）则通过将适当调谐的激光照射在离子上来执行。在这个项目中，我们将研究一种新型的逻辑门，通过极短脉冲（“超快”）激光技术实现捕获离子。我们预计这些新的门将比目前使用的门快100到1000倍，从而大大提高计算速度。捕获离子的超快量子逻辑门的演示将为捕获原子离子的更强大的量子计算铺平道路。将快脉冲激光应用于大量离子的潜力有望用于复杂系统的高效量子模拟，以及替代量子计算方案-“簇态”和“拓扑”模型。冷阱离子的超快激发在基本光谱测量、寻找基本常数的时间变化和精密计量中具有重要的应用。该计划的教育部分包括进一步发展和建立量子信息和量子计算的本科和研究生课程，同时积极让妇女和少数民族参与前沿物理研究，并通过西雅图地区文理学院的公共和客座讲座向更广泛的社会接触。

Quantum computing is a rapidly developing area of both theoretical and experimental research in physics and computer science. Several important computational tasks would execute much faster on a quantum computer; additionally, complex systems of great importance to physics, material science, chemistry and biosciences can be modeled efficiently on a quantum computer, where a regular computer fails. Of the many possible realizations of a quantum computer, the system of trapped, laser-cooled atomic ions has so far shown the greatest promise. Here, the information is stored in the energy levels of individual ions localized in free space by means of radiofrequency traps, while the logic operations ("gates") are performed by shining properly tuned lasers on the ions. In this project we will investigate a new type of logic gates with trapped ion enabled by the very short-pulsed ("ultrafast") laser technology. We expect these new gates to be 100 to 1000 times faster than the types of gates used to date, thus dramatically increasing the computational speed.Demonstration of ultrafast quantum logic gates with trapped ions will pave way to more robust quantum computation with trapped atomic ions. The potential of applying the fast-pulsed lasers to a large number of ions is promising for efficient quantum simulations of complex systems, as well as for the alternative quantum computation schemes - the "cluster state" and the "topological" models. Ultrafast excitation of cold, trapped ions has important applications to basic spectroscopic measurements, searches for time variations of fundamental constants and to precision metrology. The educational part of this program includes further developing and establishing undergraduate and graduate curriculum in quantum information and quantum computation while actively involving women and minorities in cutting edge physics research and reaching out to the broader society through public and guest lectures in the Seattle area liberal arts colleges.