ABSTRACT Accurate performance estimation of experimentally demonstrated quantum memories is key to understand the nuances in their deployment in photonic quantum networks. While several software packages allow for accessible quantum simulation, they often do not account for the loss and noise in physical devices. We present a framework for modeling ensemble‐based atomic quantum memories using the quantum channel formalism. We provide a Kraus matrix representation of several experimentally implemented state‐of‐the art quantum memories and give an overview of their most important performance metrics. To showcase the applicability of this approach, we implement a memory‐assisted quantum token protocol within our simulation framework. Our digital twin model is readily extensible to other memory implementations and easily compatible with existing frameworks for performance simulation of experimental quantum networks.
ABSTRACT Accurate performance estimation of experimentally demonstrated quantum memories is key to understand the nuances in their deployment in photonic quantum networks. While several software packages allow for accessible quantum simulation, they often do not account for the loss and noise in physical devices. We present a framework for modeling ensemble‐based atomic quantum memories using the quantum channel formalism. We provide a Kraus matrix representation of several experimentally implemented state‐of‐the art quantum memories and give an overview of their most important performance metrics. To showcase the applicability of this approach, we implement a memory‐assisted quantum token protocol within our simulation framework. Our digital twin model is readily extensible to other memory implementations and easily compatible with existing frameworks for performance simulation of experimental quantum networks.
Quantum memories are key ingredients for future quantum networks. Developing methods for their certification is therefore an important, yet challenging, problem. In this work, we present a general framework for certifying quantum memories and quantifying their performance in an operational and efficient manner, taking advantage of developments in the theory of quantum channels. We start by giving a pedagogical introduction to these concepts and tools and illustrate their natural application to quantum memories. Specifically, we quantify the fidelity of a quantum memory via the notion of average channel fidelity, which can be estimated precisely in an experiment via a finite set of probe states forming a so-called 2-design. We then present a number of witnessing techniques for certifying this quantity, and show that it gives access to other important properties of the channel, such as its dimensionality and its capacity to transmit quantum information. We consider mostly a simple prepare-and-measure scenario, but discuss also the case of an entanglement-based setup, as well as a semi-device-independent approach. Finally, we apply these methods to a solid-state quantum memory experiment, certifying an average channel fidelity of 98.6%. Our certification methods can be readily applied to other quantum devices, such as fibers, transducers and gates.
Accurate performance estimation of experimentally demonstrated quantum memories is key to understand the nuances in their deployment in photonic quantum networks. While several software packages allow for accessible quantum simulation, they often do not account for the loss and noise in physical devices. We present a framework for modeling ensemble-based atomic quantum memories using the quantum channel formalism. We provide a Kraus matrix representation of several experimentally implemented state-of-the art quantum memories and give an overview of their most important performance metrics. To showcase the applicability of this approach, we implement a memory-assisted quantum token protocol within our simulation framework. Our digital twin model is readily extensible to other memory implementations and easily compatible with existing frameworks for performance simulation of experimental quantum networks.
ABSTRACT The nitrogen‐vacancy (NV) center in diamond is a crucial platform for quantum technologies, where its precise numerical modeling is indispensable for the continued advancement of the field. We present here a Python library for simulating the NV spin dynamics under general experimental conditions, i.e. a digital twin. Our library accounts for electromagnetic pulses and other environmental inputs, which are used to solve the system's time evolution, resulting in a physical output in the form of a quantum observable given by fluorescence. The simulation framework is based on a non‐perturbative time‐dependent Hamiltonian model, where the states initialization and readout are postulated from the interaction with optical fields. By eliminating oversimplifications such as the adoption of rotating frames for the microwave and radio frequency fields, our simulations reveal subtle dynamics emerging from realistic pulse constraints. The software is illustrated with three examples and validated by comparing the simulations with experimental reports, relevant to the fields of quantum computing (conditional logic gates), sensing (dynamical decoupling sequences with coupled spins) and networks (state teleportation). Overall, this digital twin delivers a robust numerical modeling of the NV spin dynamics, with simple and accessible usability, which can be used for a wide range of applications.
Abstract Quantum networks play an extremely important role in quantum information science, with application to quantum communication, computation, metrology, and fundamental tests. One of the key challenges for implementing a quantum network is to distribute entangled flying qubits to spatially separated nodes, at which quantum interfaces or transducers map the entanglement onto stationary qubits. The stationary qubits at the separated nodes constitute quantum memories realized in matter while the flying qubits constitute quantum channels realized in photons. Dedicated efforts around the world for more than 20 years have resulted in both major theoretical and experimental progress toward entangling quantum nodes and ultimately building a global quantum network. Here, the development of quantum networks and the experimental progress over the past two decades leading to the current state of the art for generating entanglement of quantum nodes based on various physical systems such as single atoms, cold atomic ensembles, trapped ions, diamonds with nitrogen‐vacancy centers, and solid‐state host doped with rare‐earth ions are reviewed. Along the way, the merits are discussed and the potential of each of these systems toward realizing a quantum network is compared.
Abstract An optical quantum memory is a device that can store photonic quantum information and release it after a controlled time. It is an essential component for overcoming channel losses in large‐scale quantum networks. Optical quantum memories have been demonstrated with various physical systems including atomic gases, single atoms in optical cavities, and rare‐earth‐ion doped solids. Now, quantum memories are marching toward miniaturization and integration for large‐scale practical applications. Solid state systems stand as a natural choice due to the physical stability and ease of micro or nano fabrication using well‐established techniques. In the past decade, considerable efforts have been devoted to developing photonic integrated quantum memories, that is, quantum memories based on micro/nano‐photonic structures manufactured in solids. Remarkable performances have been achieved with integrated quantum memories, with the advantages of lower laser/electric power requirements, small volumes, large storage densities, and easy implementations. In this article, the basic concepts of optical quantum memories, the state‐of‐the‐art technologies for fabricating integrated quantum memories in rare‐earth ions doped crystals, and recent advances are introduced, and the roadmap for developing practically useful devices for applications in quantum networks is discussed.
AtomTwin.jl is an open-source Julia package for developing and simulating quantum protocols, hardware configurations and building digital twins for neutral-atom quantum processors and related atomic quantum devices. AtomTwin operates between mathematical models and physical devices; modeling atoms, optical tweezers, laser fields, atomic motion, interactions, and noise processes natively from physical geometry and parameters, without requiring users to define Hamiltonians manually. The package provides hardware-level instruction sequences, high-performance solvers for coupled quantum and classical dynamics, and a ready-to-use model for ytterbium-171 atoms in an extensible framework designed to accommodate a greater variety of atomic species and hardware components in the future. This paper describes the software architecture, performance benchmarks against existing toolboxes, and a demonstrated end-to-end application: preparation of a logical Bell state in the [[4,2,2]] error-detecting code with four 171Yb atoms in moveable tweezers.