arXiv:1512.04600
Laser-driven quantum logic gates with precision beyond the fault-tolerant threshold
Christopher J. Ballance, T. P. Harty, Norbert M. Linke, M. A. Sepiol, David Lucas
Abstract
A quantum computer could solve problems intractable on any conventional machine, but the physical resources necessary to build one depend strongly on the precision with which its constituent qubits can be manipulated. We demonstrate laser-driven two-qubit and single-qubit logic gates with fidelities 99.9(1)% and 99.9934(3)% respectively, using qubits stored in long-lived hyperfine states of calcium-43 ions held in a room-temperature device. Calcium-43 ions have exhibited the longest coherence time ($T_2^*\approx 50$sec) and the highest state preparation and measurement fidelity of any single physical qubits. We study the speed/fidelity trade-off for the two-qubit gate, for gate times between 3.8$\mu$s and 520$\mu$s, and develop a theoretical model allowing us to identify the principal technical sources of error. We conclude that trapped-ion quantum logic is possible with the precision necessary for a practical quantum computer.