MRI: Development of a Programmable Ion-Trap Quantum Computer

量子计算机能够进行即使在最大的数字超级计算机上也不实用的计算。目前的量子计算机太小了，我们无法显示出比传统计算机明显的优势。该项目将建造一台32量子比特的量子计算机，使科学家和计算机科学家能够测试用于科学计算的新算法，并开发用于优化和控制量子计算机的新软件工具。这一研究仪器将使人们能够发现将未来设备的规模扩大到100个量子比特的方法，预计将展示量子计算机相对于传统计算机的明显优势。它还将为增长中的量子信息产业所需的初级科学家和工程师提供培训机会。32量子比特量子计算机将由捕获的原子离子构建。量子比特将被存储在Yb离子的长相干超精细状态中，并将使用表面电极离子陷阱保持这些离子。所有量子比特都将被单独寻址，两个量子比特门将可能在构成完全连接的量子计算机的任何对之间进行。该仪器的设计建立在杜克大学和马里兰大学之前建造离子陷阱实验的经验基础上。在该项目中开发的仪器将允许自动执行算法，并将作为物理学家、化学家和材料科学家对使用量子计算机测试科学计算模型感兴趣的研究工具，以及计算机科学家和系统工程师测试编程方法和量子抽象的工具。该研究设备将为用户提供完全的访问权限，并允许开发难以在商业量子信息设备上测试和实施的新型用户界面。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。

Quantum computers enable calculations that are impractical on even the largest digital supercomputer. Current quantum computers are too small for us to show a clear advantage over conventional computers. This project will build a 32 qubit quantum computer that will enable scientists and computer scientists to test new algorithms for scientific computing and develop new software tools for optimizing and controlling quantum computers. This research instrument will enable the discovery of methods for scaling a future device to 100 qubits, where a clear advantage of quantum computers over conventional computers is expected to be demonstrated. It will also provide training opportunities for junior scientists and engineers needed for the growing quantum information industry.The 32 qubit quantum computer will be constructed from trapped atomic ions. The qubits will be stored in the long coherence hyperfine states of Ytterbium ions and the ions will be held using a surface electrode ion trap. All qubits will be individually addressed and two-qubit gates will be possible between any pair forming a fully-connected quantum computer. The instrument design builds off previous experience at Duke University and the University of Maryland constructing ion trap experiments. The instrument developed in this project will allow for automated execution of algorithms and will serve as a research tool for physicists, chemists, and materials scientists interested in testing models of scientific computing with quantum computers and for computer scientists and system engineers to test programming methods and quantum abstractions. The research device will give users complete access and enable the development of novel user interfaces that would be difficult to test and implement on commercial quantum information devices.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.