University of Michigan

Christopher Monroe

Luming Duan

Boris Blinov

Daniel Stick

Martin Madsen

Winfried Hensinger

David Moehring

Keith Schwab

Methods and apparatus for long-distance quantum communication and scalable quantum computation are disclosed. The methods and apparatus are based on probabilistic ion-photon mapping. Scalable quantum computation is achieved by forming deterministic quantum gates between remotely located trapped ions by detecting spontaneously emitted photons, accompanied by local Coulomb interaction between neighboring ions. Long-distance quantum communication and scalable quantum communication networks formed by employing a number of remote nodes that each include an ion trap and by employing probabilistic photon-mediated entanglement between the ions in each ion trap.

Long-distance quantum communication and scalable quantum computation

A micrometer-scale ion trap, fabricated on a monolithic chip using semiconductor micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology. A single 111Cd+ ion is confined, laser cooled, and the heating measured in an integrated radiofrequency trap etched from a doped gallium arsenide (GaAs) heterostructure. Single 111Cd+ qubit ions are confined in a radiofrequency linear ion trap on a semiconductor chip by applying a combination of static and oscillating electric potentials to integrated electrodes. The electrodes are lithographically patterned from a monolithic semiconductor substrate, eliminating the need for manual assembly and alignment of individual electrodes. The scaling of this structure to hundreds or thousands of electrodes is possible with existing semiconductor fabrication technology.

Ion trap in a semiconductor chip

Growing community of inventors

Dexter, MI, United States of America

Christopher Monroe