CAREER: Interfacing trapped ions with telecom light

原子物理实验在操纵原子、离子和光子的量子态方面取得了非凡的进展。这些系统的量子控制为量子通信和量子计算等新技术铺平了道路。该项目将率先使用镧离子作为量子比特，以克服量子通信网络的一些挑战。特别是，该项目试图展示离子和红外光子之间的界面。由于红外光在光纤中损耗最小，这种方法可以扩展量子通信网络的规模和效率。参与本项目的学生将受益于使用激光、光学、光子学和光纤技术的原子物理研究训练。该项目还将开发结合量子信息科学和光子学技术的新课程。这些活动将有助于培养下一代STEM研究人员、教育工作者和创新者。该项目的研究目标是建立双电离镧作为量子比特，或量子位，可以用电信兼容的红外光控制。捕获原子离子由于其捕获时间长、相干性好以及利用辐射精确控制其量子态的方法的可用性而成为量子信息处理应用的主要平台之一。然而，已建立的离子捕获实验使用来自主要与可见光和紫外光相互作用的元素的离子。这对量子网络提出了挑战，因为这些波长在光纤中会衰减。双电离镧是独一无二的，因为电信兼容的红外光是激光冷却和量子比特操作所需要的全部。该项目将首先使用电信兼容的红外光进行多普勒冷却，然后用于基于磁场不敏感超精细状态的量子比特操作。这对于使用原子-光子纠缠的远距离量子通信协议和分布式量子计算方案是有利的。直接将离子与红外波长连接也将降低系统的复杂性，并可能因此增强扩大更大量子网络的潜力。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。

Atomic physics experiments are making extraordinary advances in manipulating the quantum states of atoms, ions, and photons. Quantum control of these systems paves the way for new technologies such as quantum communication and quantum computing. This project will pioneer the use of lanthanum ions as a quantum bit in order to overcome some challenges for quantum communication networks. In particular, the project seeks to demonstrate an interface between ions and infrared photons. Since infrared light suffers minimal losses in an optical fiber, this approach can extend the size and efficiency of quantum communication networks. Students working on this project will benefit from atomic physics research training using lasers, optics, photonics, and fiber technology. The project will also develop new curricula incorporating quantum information science and photonics technologies. These activities will help prepare the next generation of STEM researchers, educators, and innovators.The research aim of this project is to establish doubly-ionized lanthanum as a quantum bit, or qubit, that can be controlled with telecom-compatible infrared light. Trapped atomic ions are one of the leading platforms for quantum information processing applications due to their long trapping times, good coherence properties, and the availability of methods to precisely control their quantum states using radiation. However, the established ion trapping experiments use ions from elements that mainly interact with visible and ultraviolet light. This poses a challenge for quantum networking because these wavelengths get attenuated in optical fibers. Doubly-ionized lanthanum is unique because telecom-compatible infrared light is all that should be needed for laser cooling and qubit operations. This project will use telecom-compatible infrared light first for Doppler cooling, and then for manipulation of qubits based on magnetic-field-insensitive hyperfine states. This is expected to be advantageous for long-distance quantum communication protocols that use atom-photon entanglement and for distributed quantum computation schemes. Directly interfacing ions with infrared wavelengths will also reduce the complexity of the system, and may thus enhance the potential for scaling up larger quantum networks.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.