arXiv:2405.13369
Realization of a crosstalk-free multi-ion node for long-distance quantum networking
Lai, P. -C., Wang, Y., Jianhong Shi, Zhihua Cui, Zidong Wang, Zhang, S., Pengyu Liu, Zhenhuan Tian, Y. -D. Sun, X.-Y. Chang, B. -X. Qi, Huang, Y. -Y., Z. -C. Zhou, Yukai Wu, Y. Xu, Pu, Y. -F., Luming Duan
Abstract
Trapped atomic ions constitute one of the leading physical platforms for building the quantum repeater nodes to realize large-scale quantum networks. In a long-distance trapped-ion quantum network, it is essential to have crosstalk-free dual-type qubits: one type, called the communication qubit, to establish entangling interface with telecom photons; and the other type, called the memory qubit, to store quantum information immune from photon scattering under entangling attempts. Here, we report the first experimental implementation of a telecom-compatible and crosstalk-free quantum network node based on two trapped $^{40}$Ca$^{+}$ ions. The memory qubit is encoded on a long-lived metastable level to avoid crosstalk with the communication qubit encoded in another subspace of the same ion species, and a quantum wavelength conversion module is employed to generate ion-photon entanglement over a $12\,$km fiber in a heralded style. Our work therefore constitutes an important step towards the realization of quantum repeaters and long-distance quantum networks.