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arXiv:quant-ph/0404064 · Reviews of Modern Physics

NMR techniques for quantum control and computation

Lieven M. K. Vandersypen, Isaac L. Chuang

Published Jan 12, 2005• 1,217 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Fifty years of developments in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) have resulted in an unrivaled degree of control of the dynamics of coupled two-level quantum systems. This coherent control of nuclear spin dynamics has recently been taken to a new level, motivated by the interest in quantum information processing. NMR has been the workhorse for the experimental implementation of quantum protocols, allowing exquisite control of systems up to seven qubits in size. This article surveys and summarizes a broad variety of pulse control and tomographic techniques which have been developed for, and used in, NMR quantum computation. Many of these will be useful in other quantum systems now being considered for the implementation of quantum information processing tasks.

DOI
10.1103/revmodphys.76.1037

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Fifty years of developments in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) have resulted in an unrivaled degree of control of the dynamics of coupled two-level quantum systems. This coherent control of nuclear spin dynamics has recently been taken to a new level, motivated by the interest in quantum information processing. NMR has been the workhorse for the experimental implementation of quantum protocols, allowing exquisite control of systems up to seven qubits in size. This article surveys and summarizes a broad variety of pulse control and tomographic techniques which have been developed for, and used in, NMR quantum computation. Many of these will be useful in other quantum systems now being considered for the implementation of quantum information processing tasks.
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Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) has provided a valuable experimental testbed for quantum information processing (QIP). Here, we briefly review the use of nuclear spins as qubits, and discuss the current status of NMR-QIP. Advances in the techniques available for control are described along with the various implementations of quantum algorithms and quantum simulations that have been performed using NMR. The recent application of NMR control techniques to other quantum computing systems are reviewed before concluding with a description of the efforts currently underway to transition to solid state NMR systems that hold promise for scalable architectures.
Nuclear magnetic resonance is arguably both the best available quantum technology for implementing simple quantum computing experiments and the worst technology for building large scale quantum computers that has ever been seriously put forward. After a few years of rapid growth, leading to an implementation of Shor's quantum factoring algorithm in a seven-spin system, the field started to reach its natural limits and further progress became challenging. Rather than pursuing more complex algorithms on larger systems, interest has now largely moved into developing techniques for the precise and efficient manipulation of spin states with the aim of developing methods that can be applied in other more scalable technologies and within conventional NMR. However, the user friendliness of NMR implementations means that they remain popular for proof-of-principle demonstrations of simple quantum information protocols.
Quantum information processors have the potential to drastically change the way we communicate and process information. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has been one of the first experimental implementations of quantum information processing (QIP) and continues to be an excellent testbed to develop new QIP techniques. We review the recent progress made in NMR QIP, focusing on decoupling, pulse engineering and indirect nuclear control. These advances have enhanced the capabilities of NMR QIP, and have useful applications in both traditional NMR and other QIP architectures.
Quantum information processors have the potential to drastically change the way we communicate and process information. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has been one of the first experimental implementations of quantum information processing (QIP) and continues to be an excellent testbed to develop new QIP techniques. We review the recent progress made in NMR QIP, focusing on decoupling, pulse engineering and indirect nuclear control. These advances have enhanced the capabilities of NMR QIP, and have useful applications in both traditional NMR and other QIP architectures.