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IEEE/LEOS Summer Topical Meetings

Towards a quantum network based on trapped ions in cavity

Florian R. Ong, Klemens Schüppert, Pierre Jobez, Florian Kranzl, Dario Fioretto, Markus Teller, Konstantin Friebe, M. Lee, Ben Ames, Tracy E. Northup, R. Blatt

Published Jul 1, 2017• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The realization of a quantum network requires linking distant nodes via a quantum channel. To realize this link, it seems natural to use single photons to transmit or to share the quantum state of a static qubit. In this direction, a trapped ion in cavity has already been used to perform ion-photon entanglement [1] and ion-to-photon state mapping [2].

DOI
10.1109/phosst.2017.8012706

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The realization of a quantum network requires linking distant nodes via a quantum channel. To realize this link, it seems natural to use single photons to transmit or to share the quantum state of a static qubit. In this direction, a trapped ion in cavity has already been used to perform ion-photon entanglement [1] and ion-to-photon state mapping [2].
Trapped ions are a promising platform for local quantum information processing. In order to distribute this quantum information over long distances, we can take advantage of optical cavities, which ofier a coherent interface between matter and light, enabling the transfer of quantum information from stationary qubits such as ions onto photons. We demonstrate such an interface by coupling trapped ions to a cavity and have recently shown that a quantum state can be faithfully transferred from a single ion onto a single photon. In particular, this transfer can be improved by taking advantage of a collective effect between multiple ions, namely, superradiant emission into the cavity. In this proof-of-principle experiment, we tune the phase of a two-ion entangled state between sub- and superradiance. The superradiant coupling is then used to enhance the transfer of quantum information onto a photon from a logical qubit encoded in the two ions. Finally, prospects for linking together distant ions in cavities via a quantum network are discussed. Toward this goal, we outline a fiber-based ion-cavity experiment which allows access to the single-ion strong-coupling regime.
Quantum networking is an established and growing field of research, with applications in many other fields of quantum technology, as well as fundamental research in quantum mechanics. A quantum network consists of multiple quantum devices that can interchange quantum information or be entangled with each other. Trapped ions coupled to optical cavities are among the most promising platforms in quantum technology broadly and networking specifically, with the ability to initialise and store quantum states in the ions and, via the cavity, transfer those states onto photons, which can interact with distant systems. This thesis describes two experiments using an ion trap with integrated high finesse optical cavity as a source of single photons. In the first, the photons were converted to a standard telecommunications wavelength through quantum frequency conversion and transmitted over 10 km of optical fibre. The attenuation experienced by the photons in optical fibre without frequency conversion would make transmission over such a long distance impractical. The converted photons were shown to maintain their nonclassical statistics, meaning such a system could be used to create quantum networks over long distances. A novel scheme for producing single photons from the ion-cavity system was demonstrated. This scheme significantly reduces the impact of decoherence in the system compared to commonly used schemes through selection of the initial state of the ion. This scheme may be directly applied to ion-photon entanglement and would lead to improved fidelity in ion-ion entanglement or state transfer. Both experiments represent significant steps towards the building of quantum networks based on ions coupled to optical cavities. They lay the groundwork for future experiments using the same system to entangle ions with photons and eventually with ions in other traps.
Trapped ions are one of the leading platforms for quantum computation and networking, with long coherence times and high fidelity qubit operation. We exploit these attributes to build a quantum network with the use of three trapped ion modules connected via photonic links. In each of these systems, we have ions of different species for use as memory or communication qubits. Our newest module contains two high NA=0.8 objectives, each covering 20% of the solid angle of photons emitted from the ion, making it suitable for use as the middle node of the network. Photons are collected from each chamber, and we generate remote entanglement between each pair of nodes by interfering the photons on a beamsplitter. This heralds entanglement of the communication ions in the pair of network nodes, which we then swap onto the memory qubits. I will discuss our progress towards creating a Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger (GHZ) state between the memory ions in the three nodes.
Trapped ions coupled to optical cavities can be used to build up quantum interfaces between stationary and flying qubits in a quantum network. Shared entangled states between different network nodes have proven to be an essential resource for various applications of a quantum network, such as distributed quantum computation. At a first quantum network node, we have trapped ions in a linear Paul trap and coupled them to an optical cavity two centimeter in length. We have demonstrated entanglement of a single ion with a single photon, and used this high-fidelity operation to entangle two ions in a heralded fashion [1,2]. However, the speed of these operations is intrinsically limited by the ion-cavity coupling strength, which is predetermined by the length of the optical cavity. Fiber-based optical cavities have been coupled to single ions and it has been shown that these microscopic cavities allow access to the strong coupling regime [3]. Operating in this regime would enable quantum communication protocols to be carried out over long distances with enhanced fidelity and efficiency. With this goal, we have designed and constructed a novel ion-cavity system which incorporates a fiber cavity. In my talk, I will introduce basic building blocks of quantum networks based on trapped ions coupled to optical cavities and will present recent results, including simulation and characterization of our fiber-based ion-cavity system. [1] A. Stute et al., Nature. 485, 482 (2012) [2] B. Casabone et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 100505 (2013) [4] H. Takahashi et al., arXiv:1808.04031 (2018)
Trapped ions constitute a promising platform for implementation of a quantum network. Recently, a dual-type qubit scheme has been realized in a quantum network node where communication qubits and memory qubits are encoded in different energy levels of the same ion species, such that the generation of ion-photon entanglement on the communication qubits has negligible cross-talk error on the preloaded quantum information in the memory qubits. However, to achieve versatile applications of a quantum network, a crucial component of the dual-type node, namely, the entangling gate between the communication and the memory qubits, is still missing. Here, we report a dual-type quantum network node equipped with ion-photon entanglement generation, cross-talk-free quantum memory, and entangling gates between dual-type qubits simultaneously. We demonstrate its practical applications including the passive quantum-state teleportation and the preparation of multipartite entangled state. Our work achieves the necessary components of a dual-type quantum network node.