Coherent Control of Single Neodymium Ion Qubits

在量子力学水平上控制单原子的性质有望使革命性的量子技术在计算、安全通信和精确测量方面得到应用。从开发可扩展技术的前景来看，与困在固体中的原子一起工作是非常有吸引力的。晶体中的稀土原子是一个非常有前途的研究系统，因为它们的量子性质不会因为与固体中其他原子的相互作用而显著降低。该项目将集中于利用光激光脉冲和微波脉冲来控制单个Nd3+原子的量子态。这些研究将确定钕原子是否适合发展量子技术，特别是量子通信。该项目将培养具有量子科学和技术专长的未来一代科学家和工程师。研究和控制固体中的单个量子比特是当前量子信息科学的前沿。为了推进这一前沿，将对耦合到纳米光子谐振器的单个钕离子进行光谱分析和自旋控制，并将评估它们用作可靠量子比特的前景。之所以使用稀土离子，特别是钕，是因为它们具有4f电子能级，在固态下表现出一些最好的光学和自旋量子相干性，类似于被捕获的原子和离子。这一研究将有助于更好地理解单个离子与其纳米尺度环境之间的相互作用，如邻近表面、原子核之间的超精细耦合以及以前在单量子水平上尚未研究过的离子-离子偶极相互作用。结合高频率分辨率激光光谱学、纳米光子学、低温、微波自旋控制的新光学技术将被开发出来。新晶体材料的纳米制造技术将进一步进步。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Controlling the properties of single atoms at the quantum mechanical level promises to enable revolutionary quantum technologies with application in computing, secure communication and precision measurements. From the prospect of developing a scalable technology, it is very appealing to work with atoms trapped in solids. Rare-earth atoms in crystals are a very promising system to study because their quantum properties are not significantly degraded by the interaction with the other atoms in the solid. This project will be focused on controlling the quantum states of single neodymium atoms using optical laser pulses and microwave pulses. These studies will determine whether neodymium atoms are well suited for developing quantum technologies, especially quantum communications. This project will allow for training the future generation of scientists and engineers with expertise in quantum science and technology.Studying and controlling single quantum bits in solids is at the current frontier of quantum information science. To advance this frontier, optical spectroscopy and spin control of single neodymium ions coupled to nano-photonic resonators will be performed, and the prospects for using them as reliable quantum bits will be assessed. The reason for using rare-earth-ions, specifically neodymium, is that they have 4f electronic levels exhibiting some of the best optical and spin quantum coherence in the solid state, similar to trapped atoms and ions. This study will lead to a better understanding of the interactions between single ions and their nano-scale environment, such as nearby surfaces, hyperfine coupling between nuclei, and ion-ion dipole interaction that have not been studied before at the single quantum level. New optical techniques combining high-frequency-resolution laser spectroscopy, nano-photonics, low temperature, microwave spin control will be developed. Nano-fabrication techniques for new crystalline materials will be further advanced.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.