Progress towards a three-node ion-trap quantum network

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.

Duke Scholars

Author Christopher R Monroe Electrical and Computer Engineering