Quantum Computing with Trapped Ions

Christopher Monroe
University of Maryland and IonQ, USA

Individual atoms are standards for quantum information technology, acting as qubits that have unsurpassed levels of quantum coherence, can be replicated and scaled with the atomic clock accuracy, and allow near-perfect measurement.  Atomic ions are be confined by silicon-based chip traps with lithographically-defined electrodes under high vacuum at room temperature. Quantum gate operations between atomic ions are mediated with control laser beams, allowing the qubit connectivity graph to be reconfigured and optimally adapted to a given algorithm or mode of computing.  Existing work has shown >99.9% fidelity operations, fully-connected control with up to about 10 qubits, and quantum simulations with more limited control on over 50 qubits – all with the same atomic architecture.  I will speculate on combining all of this into a single universal quantum computing device that can be co-designed with future applications and scaled to useful dimensions.