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arXiv:2303.16605 · Quantum Science and Technology

Proposal for practical Rydberg quantum gates using a native two-photon excitation

Rui Li, Jing Qian, Weiping Zhang

Published Jun 24, 2023• 14 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Abstract Rydberg quantum gate serving as an indispensable computing unit for neutral-atom quantum computation, has attracted intense research efforts for the last decade. However, the state-of-the-art experiments have not reached the high gate fidelity as predicted by most theories due to the unexpected large loss remaining in Rydberg and intermediate states. In this paper, we report our findings in constructing a native two-qubit controlled-NOT gate based on pulse optimization. We focus on the method of commonly-used two-photon Rydberg excitation with smooth Gaussian-shaped pulses which is straightforward for experimental demonstration. By utilizing optimized pulse shapes the scheme reveals a remarkable reduction in the decays from Rydberg and intermediate states, as well as a high-tolerance to the residual thermal motion of atoms. We extract a conservative lower bound for the gate fidelity >0.9921 after taking into account the experimental imperfections. Our results not only reduce the gap between experimental and theoretical prediction because of the optimal control, but also facilitate the connectivity of distant atomic qubits in a larger atom array by reducing the requirement of strong blockade, which is promising for developing multiqubit quantum computation in large-scale atomic arrays.

DOI
10.1088/2058-9565/ace0d5

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Abstract Rydberg quantum gate serving as an indispensable computing unit for neutral-atom quantum computation, has attracted intense research efforts for the last decade. However, the state-of-the-art experiments have not reached the high gate fidelity as predicted by most theories due to the unexpected large loss remaining in Rydberg and intermediate states. In this paper, we report our findings in constructing a native two-qubit controlled-NOT gate based on pulse optimization. We focus on the method of commonly-used two-photon Rydberg excitation with smooth Gaussian-shaped pulses which is straightforward for experimental demonstration. By utilizing optimized pulse shapes the scheme reveals a remarkable reduction in the decays from Rydberg and intermediate states, as well as a high-tolerance to the residual thermal motion of atoms. We extract a conservative lower bound for the gate fidelity >0.9921 after taking into account the experimental imperfections. Our results not only reduce the gap between experimental and theoretical prediction because of the optimal control, but also facilitate the connectivity of distant atomic qubits in a larger atom array by reducing the requirement of strong blockade, which is promising for developing multiqubit quantum computation in large-scale atomic arrays.
Arrays of identical neutral atoms trapped in optical tweezers are a promising candidate for use in quantum computing. These platforms are highly scalable to large numbers of qubits and neutral atoms boost several attractive features as long coherence times and the possibility to be entangled via strong dipole-dipole interactions by driving them to highly excited Rydberg states. \nThe Thesis work is developed inside the framework of the QRydDemo project, whose aim in the next few years is to realize a neutral atom quantum processor with several hundred qubits. The smallest building blocks for the quantum computer are one and two-qubit gates: to entangle two atoms in the quantum register, a controlled-phase (CZ) gate will be implemented by shining fine-tuned laser pulses onto them. In this work, after giving a theoretical description of the Hamiltonian of two neutral atoms in the quantum register, a numerical simulation of this system is exploited to reproduce the behavior of the two-qubit CZ gate. Realistic effects are taken into account as finite temperature, imperfect Rydberg blockade, or decay out of the Rydberg state. A protocol with constant pulses is analyzed and its optimal parameters are found through classical optimizers. Then, time-dependent pulses are introduced and the optimal pulses are found through the optimal control algorithm dCRAB in an open-loop optimization. For the experimental realization of the gate, this analysis is of pivotal importance to know in which aspect more effort has to be put to maximize the experimental precision of the operation and thus improving the performance of the whole device \n
We investigate the robustness of two-qubit gates to deviations of experimental controls on a neutral atom platform utilizing Rydberg states. We construct robust controlled-Z gates---employing techniques from quantum optimal control---that retain high Bell-state fidelity F>0.999F>0.999F>0.999 in the presence of significant deviations of the coupling strength to the Rydberg state. Such deviations can arise from laser intensity noise and atomic motion in an inhomogeneous coupling field. We also discuss methods to mitigate errors due to deviations of the laser detuning. The designed pulses operate on timescales that are short compared to the fundamental decay timescale set by spontaneous emission and blackbody radiation. We account for the finite lifetime of the Rydberg state in both the optimization and fidelity calculations---this makes the gates conducive to noisy intermediate-scale quantum experiments, meaning that our protocols can reduce infidelity on near-term quantum computing devices. We calculate physical properties associated with infidelity for strontium-88 atoms---including lifetimes, polarizabilities, and blockade strengths---and use these calculations to identify optimal Rydberg states for our protocols, which allows for further minimization of infidelity.
Abstract High-fidelity controlled-Z (CZ ) gates are essential and mandatory to build a large-scale quantum computer. In neutral atoms, the strong dipole–dipole interactions between their Rydberg states make them one of the pioneering platforms to implement CZ gates. Here we numerically investigate the optimized pulses to generate a high-fidelity Rydberg C Z gate in a three-level ladder-type atomic system. By tuning the temporal shapes of Gaussian or segmented pulses, the populations on the intermediate excited states are shown to be suppressed within the symmetric gate operation protocol, which leads to a C Z gate with a high Bell fidelity up to 99.92 % . These optimized pulses are robust to thermal fluctuations and the excitation field variations. Our results promise a high-fidelity and fast gate operation under amenable and controllable experimental parameters, which goes beyond the adiabatic operation regime under a finite blockade strength.
The neutral atom platform has become an attractive choice to study the science of quantum information and quantum simulation, where intense efforts have been devoted to the entangling processes between individual atoms. A two-qubit controlled-phase gate via Rydberg blockade is one of the most essential elements. Recent theoretical studies have suggested the advantages of introducing nontrivial waveform modulation into the gate protocol, which is anticipated to improve its performance towards the next stage. We report our recent experimental results in realizing the two-qubit controlled-phase (CZ{C}_{Z}CZ​) gate via single-modulated-pulse off-resonant modulated driving embedded in a two-photon transition for Rb atoms. It relies on a global driving laser pulse with a carefully calculated smooth waveform to gain the appropriate phase accumulations required by CZ{C}_{Z}CZ​ gate. Combining this CZ{C}_{Z}CZ​ gate with global microwave pulses, two-atom entanglement is generated with the raw fidelity of 0.945(6). After accounting for state preparation and measurement errors, we extract the entanglement operation fidelity to be 0.980(7). Our work features completing the CZ{C}_{Z}CZ​ gate operation within a single pulse to avoid shelved population in the Rydberg levels, thus demonstrating another promising route for realizing a high-fidelity two-qubit gate for the neutral atom platform.
Rydberg blockade gates are the most experimentally mature entangling operations in neutral-atom quantum processors, combining fast gate times with simple control, but their performance degrades at larger interatomic separations and remains sensitive to motional and technical noise. Non-blockade gate schemes, such as dark-state and geometric protocols, offer complementary robustness but typically rely on complex and experimentally demanding control. Here we show that quantum optimal control enables non-blockade gate schemes to be implemented using the experimentally established pulse-shaping techniques developed for blockade-based gates. Focusing on the dark-state gate, we construct non-adiabatic implementations that preserve the intrinsic robustness of adiabatic dark-state protocols while achieving gate times comparable to time-optimal blockade gates using only smooth, experimentally feasible pulses. The resulting gates exhibit enhanced resilience to motional coupling, laser noise, and interaction inhomogeneity, particularly near and beyond the blockade radius. This work establishes a practical route to fast, robust two-qubit gates without increased experimental complexity.
Abstract We present a robust protocol for implementing high-fidelity multiqubit controlled phase gates (C k Z) on neutral atom qubits coupled to highly excited Rydberg states. Our approach is based on extending adiabatic rapid passage to two-photon excitation via a short-lived intermediate excited state common to alkali-atom Rydberg experiments, accounting for the full impact of spontaneous decay and differential AC Stark shifts from the complete manifold of hyperfine excited states. We evaluate and optimise gate performance, concluding that for Cs and currently available laser frequencies and powers, a CCZ gate with fidelity F > 0.995 for three qubits and CCCZ with F > 0.99 for four qubits is attainable in ∼ 1.8 μs via this protocol. Higher fidelities are accessible with future technologies, and our results highlight the utility of neutral atom arrays for the native implementation of multiqubit unitaries.