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Science

Strongly coupled at distance

Ian S. Osborne

Published Jul 9, 2020• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Quantum Physics The development of hybrid quantum systems provides a flexibility that allows for various components to be coupled together, thereby expanding the opportunity to build quantum sensors and devices that can be designed for specific purposes. Key to doing so is being able to strongly couple the different components. Most developments to date have relied on the components being in close proximity, which can hamper design flexibility. Karg et al. used a laser to induce strong coupling between a cloud of atoms and an optomechanical membrane. With the components separated by 1 meter, this approach demonstrates a methodology of coupling quantum systems and easing up restrictions on spatial proximity. Science , this issue p. [174][1] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.abb0328

DOI
10.1126/science.369.6500.154-f

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Quantum Physics
The development of hybrid quantum systems provides a flexibility that allows for various components to be coupled together, thereby expanding the opportunity to build quantum sensors and devices that can be designed for specific purposes. Key to doing so is being able to strongly couple the different components. Most developments to date have relied on the components being in close proximity, which can hamper design flexibility. Karg et al. used a laser to induce strong coupling between a cloud of atoms and an optomechanical membrane. With the components separated by 1 meter, this approach demonstrates a methodology of coupling quantum systems and easing up restrictions on spatial proximity.
Science , this issue p. 174
Engineering strong interactions between quantum systems is essential for many phenomena of quantum physics and technology. Typically, strong coupling relies on short-range forces or on placing the systems in high-quality electromagnetic resonators, which restricts the range of the coupling to small distances. We used a free-space laser beam to strongly couple a collective atomic spin and a micromechanical membrane over a distance of 1 meter in a room-temperature environment. The coupling is highly tunable and allows the observation of normal-mode splitting, coherent energy exchange oscillations, two-mode thermal noise squeezing, and dissipative coupling. Our approach to engineering coherent long-distance interactions with light makes it possible to couple very different systems in a modular way, opening up a range of opportunities for quantum control and coherent feedback networks.
Quantum Systems A number of platforms are being pursued for developing technologies that exploit the enhanced sensing and measurement capabilities of quantum mechanics. Hybrid systems offer the flexibility of combining and optimizing different platforms. Hong et al. combined optomechanical control of motion and single-phonon counting techniques to probabilistically generate a single-phonon Fock state within a nanomechanical resonator. Chu et al. used electromechanical coupling to address a bulk piezoelectric resonator with a superconducting quantum circuit. Both approaches hold promise for developing hybrid quantum technologies. Science , this issue p. [203][1], p. [199][2] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aan7939 [2]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aao1511
Quantum Systems Quantum entanglement occurs when two separate entities become strongly linked in a way that cannot be explained by classical physics; it is a powerful resource in quantum communication protocols and advanced technologies that aim to exploit the enhanced capabilities of quantum systems. To date, entanglement has generally been limited to microscopic quantum units such as pairs or multiples of single ions, atoms, photons, and so on. Kotler et al. and Mercier de Lepinay et al. demonstrate the ability to extend quantum entanglement to massive macroscopic systems (see the Perspective by Lau and Clerk). Entanglement of two mechanical oscillators on such a large length and mass scale is expected to find widespread use in both applications and fundamental physics to probe the boundary between the classical and quantum worlds. Science , this issue p. [622][1], p. [625][2]; see also p. [570][3] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.abf2998 [2]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.abf5389 [3]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.abh3419
Quantum Entanglement When particles in a quantum mechanical system are entangled, a measurement performed on one part of the system can affect the results of the same type of measurement performed on another part—even if these subsystems are physically separated. Kunkel et al. , Fadel et al. , and Lange et al. achieved this so-called distributed entanglement in a particularly challenging setting: an ensemble of many cold atoms (see the Perspective by Cavalcanti). In all three studies, the entanglement was first created within an atomic cloud, which was then allowed to expand. Local measurements on the different, spatially separated parts of the cloud confirmed that the entanglement survived the expansion. Science , this issue p. [413][1], p. [409][2], p. [416][3]; see also p. [376][4] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aao2254 [2]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aao1850 [3]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aao2035 [4]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aat4590
Quantum Optics Photons do not naturally interact with each other and must be coaxed into doing so. Liang et al. show that a gas of Rydberg atoms—a cloud of rubidium atoms excited by a sequence of laser pulses—can induce strong interactions between propagating photons. The authors could tune the strength of the interaction to make the photons form dimer and trimer bound states. This approach should prove useful for producing novel quantum states of light and quantum entanglement on demand. Science , this issue p. [783][1] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aao7293
Quantum Systems The processing of quantum information is reliant on the encoding and manipulation of quantum states of a qubit. Superconducting circuits are the most advanced platform at present, but there is an issue with cross-talk between the qubits and the challenge of error correction as the systems are scaled up. Another approach being pursued is a modular platform in which the qubits are spatially separated. Daiss et al. demonstrate the operation of a quantum gate in which one qubit conditionally controls the state of another qubit spatially separated by 60 meters (see the Perspective by Hunger). Because the approach is platform independent, it could be extended from the demonstrated neutral atoms to ions, impurity vacancy centers, or even a combination of these qubits. Science , this issue p. [614][1]; see also p. [576][2] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.abe3150 [2]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.abg1536