Quantum metrology harnesses entanglement to improve measurement precision beyond classical limits. While standard protocols rely on two-level qubits to estimate a single parameter, extending them to entangled multi-level qudits enables the optimal simultaneous estimation of multiple parameters within a single probe. However, generating such multi-level entanglement and harnessing it for joint multi-parameter estimation in atomic clocks has remained an outstanding challenge. Here, we experimentally demonstrate genuine qutrit entanglement and joint multi-parameter estimation in an optical clock platform. Leveraging control over the ground state and two fine-structure clock states of $^{88}\text{Sr}$ atoms trapped in triple-magic optical tweezers, we generate a maximally entangled two-qutrit state with a loss-postselected fidelity of F = 0.85(1), certifying genuine multi-level entanglement. Taking advantage of this high-dimensional entanglement, we theoretically construct and experimentally realize an optimal two-qutrit metrological probe state and noise-robust readout circuit to simultaneously estimate injected phases on two optical clock transitions. We observe a joint estimation variance below the ideal individual two-level sensing threshold, and show theoretically that this advantage persists at state-of-the-art atom numbers under circuit-level noise. These results demonstrate the key building blocks towards quantum information science with high-dimensional states encoded in the internal energy levels of neutral atoms.Quantum metrology harnesses entanglement to improve measurement precision beyond classical limits. While standard protocols rely on two-level qubits to estimate a single parameter, extending them to entangled multi-level qudits enables the optimal simultaneous estimation of multiple parameters within a single probe. However, generating such multi-level entanglement and harnessing it for joint multi-parameter estimation in atomic clocks has remained an outstanding challenge. Here, we experimentally demonstrate genuine qutrit entanglement and joint multi-parameter estimation in an optical clock platform. Leveraging control over the ground state and two fine-structure clock states of $^{88}\text{Sr}$ atoms trapped in triple-magic optical tweezers, we generate a maximally entangled two-qutrit state with a loss-postselected fidelity of F = 0.85(1), certifying genuine multi-level entanglement. Taking advantage of this high-dimensional entanglement, we theoretically construct and experimentally realize an optimal two-qutrit metrological probe state and noise-robust readout circuit to simultaneously estimate injected phases on two optical clock transitions. We observe a joint estimation variance below the ideal individual two-level sensing threshold, and show theoretically that this advantage persists at state-of-the-art atom numbers under circuit-level noise. These results demonstrate the key building blocks towards quantum information science with high-dimensional states encoded in the internal energy levels of neutral atoms.

quant-pharXiv:2608.05426Aug 7, 20260 citations

An elementary quantum network of entangled optical atomic clocks

B. C. Nichol, R. Srinivas, D. P. Nadlinger +5 more

arXiv:2111.10336NatureSep 7, 2022121 citations

A quantum network of two entangled optical atomic clocks

R. Srinivas, B. C. Nichol, D. P. Nadlinger +5 more

Quantum Technology: Driving Commercialisation of an Enabling ScienceJan 11, 20230 citations

Entanglement-Enhanced Optical Ion Clock

Kai Dietze, Lennart Pelzer, Ludwig Krinner +11 more

Entangled states hold the promise of improving the precision and accuracy of quantum sensors. We experimentally demonstrate that spectroscopy of an optical clock transition using entangled states can outperform its classical counterpart. Two ^{40}Ca^{+} ions are entangled in a quantum state with vanishing first-order magnetic field sensitivity, extending the coherence time of the atoms and enabling near-lifetime-limited probe times of up to 550 ms. In our protocol, entangled ions reach the same instability as uncorrelated ions, but at half the probe time, enabling faster cycle times of the clock. We run two entangled ^{40}Ca^{+} ions as an optical clock and compare its frequency instability with a ^{87}Sr lattice clock. The instability of the entangled ion clock is below a clock operated with classically correlated states for all probe times. We observe instabilities below the theoretically expected quantum projection noise limit of two uncorrelated ions for interrogation times below 100 ms. The lowest fractional frequency instability of 7×10^{-16}/sqrt[τ/1 s] is reached for 250 ms probe time, limited by residual phase noise of the probe laser. This represents the lowest instability reported to date for a ^{40}Ca^{+} ion clock.Entangled states hold the promise of improving the precision and accuracy of quantum sensors. We experimentally demonstrate that spectroscopy of an optical clock transition using entangled states can outperform its classical counterpart. Two ^{40}Ca^{+} ions are entangled in a quantum state with vanishing first-order magnetic field sensitivity, extending the coherence time of the atoms and enabling near-lifetime-limited probe times of up to 550 ms. In our protocol, entangled ions reach the same instability as uncorrelated ions, but at half the probe time, enabling faster cycle times of the clock. We run two entangled ^{40}Ca^{+} ions as an optical clock and compare its frequency instability with a ^{87}Sr lattice clock. The instability of the entangled ion clock is below a clock operated with classically correlated states for all probe times. We observe instabilities below the theoretically expected quantum projection noise limit of two uncorrelated ions for interrogation times below 100 ms. The lowest fractional frequency instability of 7×10^{-16}/sqrt[τ/1 s] is reached for 250 ms probe time, limited by residual phase noise of the probe laser. This represents the lowest instability reported to date for a ^{40}Ca^{+} ion clock.

arXiv:2506.11810Physical Review LettersJan 2, 20264 citations

Entanglement on an optical atomic-clock transition

Edwin Pedrozo-Peñafiel, Simone Colombo, Chi Shu +8 more

arXiv:2006.07501NatureDec 16, 2020275 citations

Universal quantum operations and ancilla-based read-out for tweezer clocks

Ran Finkelstein, Richard Bing-Shiun Tsai, Xiangkai Sun +6 more

Enhancing the precision of measurements by harnessing entanglement is a long-sought goal in quantum metrology1,2. Yet attaining the best sensitivity allowed by quantum theory in the presence of noise is an outstanding challenge, requiring optimal probe-state generation and read-out strategies3–7. Neutral-atom optical clocks8, which are the leading systems for measuring time, have shown recent progress in terms of entanglement generation9–11 but at present lack the control capabilities for realizing such schemes. Here we show universal quantum operations and ancilla-based read-out for ultranarrow optical transitions of neutral atoms. Our demonstration in a tweezer clock platform9,12–16 enables a circuit-based approach to quantum metrology with neutral-atom optical clocks. To this end, we demonstrate two-qubit entangling gates with 99.62(3)% fidelity—averaged over symmetric input states—through Rydberg interactions15,17,18 and dynamical connectivity19 for optical clock qubits, which we combine with local addressing16 to implement universally programmable quantum circuits. Using this approach, we generate a near-optimal entangled probe state1,4, a cascade of Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger states of different sizes, and perform a dual-quadrature5 Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger read-out. We also show repeated fast phase detection with non-destructive conditional reset of clock qubits and minimal dead time between repetitions by implementing ancilla-based quantum logic spectroscopy20 for neutral atoms. Finally, we extend this to multi-qubit parity checks and measurement-based, heralded, Bell-state preparation21–24. Our work lays the foundation for hybrid processor–clock devices with neutral atoms and more generally points to a future of practical applications for quantum processors linked with quantum sensors25. We demonstrate high-fidelity entangling gates, universal quantum operations, and ancilla-based read-out for ultranarrow optical transitions of neutral atoms in a tweezer clock platform.Enhancing the precision of measurements by harnessing entanglement is a long-sought goal in quantum metrology1,2. Yet attaining the best sensitivity allowed by quantum theory in the presence of noise is an outstanding challenge, requiring optimal probe-state generation and read-out strategies3–7. Neutral-atom optical clocks8, which are the leading systems for measuring time, have shown recent progress in terms of entanglement generation9–11 but at present lack the control capabilities for realizing such schemes. Here we show universal quantum operations and ancilla-based read-out for ultranarrow optical transitions of neutral atoms. Our demonstration in a tweezer clock platform9,12–16 enables a circuit-based approach to quantum metrology with neutral-atom optical clocks. To this end, we demonstrate two-qubit entangling gates with 99.62(3)% fidelity—averaged over symmetric input states—through Rydberg interactions15,17,18 and dynamical connectivity19 for optical clock qubits, which we combine with local addressing16 to implement universally programmable quantum circuits. Using this approach, we generate a near-optimal entangled probe state1,4, a cascade of Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger states of different sizes, and perform a dual-quadrature5 Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger read-out. We also show repeated fast phase detection with non-destructive conditional reset of clock qubits and minimal dead time between repetitions by implementing ancilla-based quantum logic spectroscopy20 for neutral atoms. Finally, we extend this to multi-qubit parity checks and measurement-based, heralded, Bell-state preparation21–24. Our work lays the foundation for hybrid processor–clock devices with neutral atoms and more generally points to a future of practical applications for quantum processors linked with quantum sensors25. We demonstrate high-fidelity entangling gates, universal quantum operations, and ancilla-based read-out for ultranarrow optical transitions of neutral atoms in a tweezer clock platform.

arXiv:2402.16220NatureOct 9, 202471 citations

^{88}\text{Sr}

atoms trapped in triple-magic optical tweezers, we generate a maximally entangled two-qutrit state with a loss-postselected fidelity of F = 0.85(1), certifying genuine multi-level entanglement. Taking advantage of this high-dimensional entanglement, we theoretically construct and experimentally realize an optimal two-qutrit metrological probe state and noise-robust readout circuit to simultaneously estimate injected phases on two optical clock transitions. We observe a joint estimation variance below the ideal individual two-level sensing threshold, and show theoretically that this advantage persists at state-of-the-art atom numbers under circuit-level noise. These results demonstrate the key building blocks towards quantum information science with high-dimensional states encoded in the internal energy levels of neutral atoms.