A quantum network with trapped ions and optical cavities

International Conference on Quantum Physics and Nuclear Engineering

March 14-16, 2016 London, UK

Florian Ong

University of Innsbruck, Austria

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Laser Opt Photonics

Abstract :

A quantum network consists of distant quantum nodes, each containing one or several quantum emitters, connected by photonic links. These photonic links enable one to entangle remote nodes and to transfer quantum states from one node to the other. Applications of such networks include scaling up quantum computers, and implementing quantum repeaters for long distance quantum communication. The technical requirements for the building blocks of a quantum network are demanding because coherent effects should dominate the systems� dynamics. One approach is to use optical cavities as efficient coherent quantum interfaces between photons and atoms. Here we report on the development of a two-node elementary quantum network based on calcium ions trapped in separate optical cavities. One node is based on a 2 cm long cavity and operates in a regime where coherent and dissipative processes have similar rates. In spite of this limitation, important quantum network protocols were demonstrated, including deterministic single-photon generation, tunable ion-photon entanglement, and heralded entanglement of two ions. The second node is under development and relies on a so-called fiber-cavity, i.e., an optical cavity defined between the facets of two optical fibers. The short cavity length, typically a few hundreds of micrometers, is designed so that the coherent interaction between the ion and the cavity field would dominate over dissipative processes, resulting in higher fidelities and efficiencies for the network protocols available at the first node.

Biography :

Email: florian.ong@uibk.ac.at