Quantum Gates and Small Cluster States with Trapped Neutral Atoms

Applicant Professor Dr. Dieter Meschede
Subject Area Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
Term from 2006 to 2013
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 14148824
 

Project Description

We plan to investigate small strings of neutral atoms for applications in quantum information processing. The atoms are stored, one by one, in a standing wave dipole trap and the interaction between the atoms, necessary for the implementation of quantum gates, will be realized through controlled cold collisions. For this, we will employ the technique of spin dependent transport. This technique will allows us to manually split the wave functions of the trapped atoms in a deterministic and fully controlled single atom Stern-Gerlach experiment, where the dipole trap provides the effective magnetic field. By recombining the atomic wave function, we will then realize a single atom interferometer and directly measure the coherence properties of the splitting process. A sequence of splitting operations, carried out on a single atom, will result in a quantum analogue of the Gallon board, where the atom carries out a quantum walk. Such quantum walks have recently been proposed as an alternative approach to quantum computing. Our ultimate goal is the implementation of fundamental quantum gates using controlled cold collisions within a register of 2-10 trapped neutral atoms. A parallel application of such quantum gates should then open the route towards the preparation of small cluster states consisting of up to 10 individually addressable qubits.
DFG Programme Research Units
Subproject of FOR 635:  Quantum Control and Simulation with Distributed Neutral Atom Systems
Major Instrumentation high precision polarization setup of the dipole trap
Instrumentation Group 5930 Prismen, Strahlenteiler und Polarisationsoptik
Participating Person Professor Dr. Artur Widera