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Robust, 2-ion quantum logic gate that operates in a microsecond is designed

Date:
March 23, 2017
Source:
University of the Basque Country
Summary:
A two-ion, robust, ultrarapid quantum logic gate capable of functioning in less than a microsecond has been designed, report the scientists involved.
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This theoretical research explores what could be achieved beyond current technological limitations to further motivate experimental progress. Together with qubits (the quantum version of the 0/1 bit), logic gates are the basic components to construct, as in a building block game, a quantum computer. They need to be fast not only to speed up the calculations but also to minimize harmful interactions with environmental noise.

In the eighties Richard Feynman proposed a "quantum computer" that would outperform ordinary ones by exploiting quantum properties, such as the possibility to explore several paths in parallel. Over thirty years later it is still difficult to make this dream come true because the useful quantum behaviour of atoms is easily destroyed by noise and unwanted interactions. Yet progress has been made along several routes or "architectures" that endeavour to control various physical systems so that they behave correctly.

One of the most advanced architectures uses trapped ions, which can be isolated and handled with great precision using lasers and electrodes to produce qubits and quantum gates. Two-qubit gates, such as the one examined in the study, may be useful for other applications of quantum technology, such as secure communications. This makes them particularly valuable gates but designing and manufacturing them is challenging. Reaching high accuracy and speed is crucial to eventually perform arbitrary computations in a fault-tolerant way.

According to Gonzalo Muga, this work "is another step forward among the many that have yet to be taken" towards attaining a quantum computer, "capable of making calculations that cannot be tackled by a traditional computer."


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Materials provided by University of the Basque Country. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. M. Palmero, S. Martínez-Garaot, D. Leibfried, D. J. Wineland, J. G. Muga. Fast phase gates with trapped ions. Physical Review A, 2017; 95 (2) DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.95.022328

Cite This Page:

University of the Basque Country. "Robust, 2-ion quantum logic gate that operates in a microsecond is designed." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 23 March 2017. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170323105733.htm>.
University of the Basque Country. (2017, March 23). Robust, 2-ion quantum logic gate that operates in a microsecond is designed. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 2, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170323105733.htm
University of the Basque Country. "Robust, 2-ion quantum logic gate that operates in a microsecond is designed." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170323105733.htm (accessed December 2, 2024).

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