Spectroscopy and Control of Cold Holmium Atoms for Quantum Information and Quantum Optics

用于量子信息和量子光学的冷钬原子的光谱学和控制

• 批准号: 0969883
• 负责人: Mark Saffman
• 金额: $ 41万
• 依托单位: University of Wisconsin-Madison
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-06-01 至 2013-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0969883&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Spectroscopy; Control; Cold; Holmium; Atoms

This project will demonstrate laser cooling and optical trapping of an atomic species with a very complex internal structure, the rare earth element Holmium (Ho). Ho has a 128 dimensional ground state manifold, the largest of any stable atomic isotope. Experiments will demonstrate control of the quantum state within this manifold using tunable, single frequency lasers, and make basic spectroscopic measurements of several properties of Ho. These measurements are motivated by two high impact applications. The first is the possibility of using collective encoding in the internal hyperfine states of Ho to define a 60 qubit quantum register. Measurements will be performed to validate the feasibility of this idea which would have a large impact on the field of quantum computing. The second application is the possibility of achieving negative refractive index in a gas of Ho atoms at a wavelength shorter than 1 micron due to the presence of near degenerate electric dipole and magnetic dipole transitions. Spectroscopic measurements will be performed to validate the feasibility of achieving neagative refractive index in Ho. Achieving such short wavelength negative refractive index with low absorption losses would have a large impact for photonics applications including superlensing and optical cloaking. The broader impacts of the project are twofold. First, this research is an important step towards realizing a scalable quantum processor that exceeds the capabilities of conventional classical computers. The availability of such a device has the potential for transforming the state of the art in areas which include numerical mathematics, information security, and simulation of quantum systems related to the development of new, technologically valuable materials. In addition the achievement of negative refractive index at short wavelengths could have a large impact for imaging and cloaking technologies that are important in many fields including engineering, and biological imaging. Second, the research program will contribute to the training of students for careers in science and engineering. Training will occur via direct participation in the University based research program. We will also inform the local community about the importance of atomic physics to information technology, and new developments in the area of photonics. Outreach to the public will be facilitated by public visiting days at the UW Madison Physics department, laboratory tours, and participation in local media programs.

该项目将演示对内部结构非常复杂的原子种类——稀土元素钬（Ho）的激光冷却和光学捕获。 Ho 具有 128 维基态流形，是所有稳定原子同位素中最大的。实验将展示使用可调谐单频激光器控制该流形内的量子态，并对 Ho 的几个特性进行基本光谱测量。这些测量是由两个高影响力的应用推动的。第一个是在 Ho 的内部超精细态中使用集体编码来定义 60 个量子位的量子寄存器的可能性。将进行测量以验证这一想法的可行性，这将对量子计算领域产生重大影响。第二个应用是由于存在近简并电偶极子和磁偶极子跃迁，因此有可能在波长短于 1 微米的 Ho 原子气体中实现负折射率。将进行光谱测量以验证在 Ho 中实现负折射率的可行性。实现如此短波长负折射率和低吸收损耗将对包括超级透镜和光学隐形在内的光子学应用产生巨大影响。该项目的更广泛影响是双重的。首先，这项研究是实现超越传统经典计算机能力的可扩展量子处理器的重要一步。这种设备的出现有可能改变数值数学、信息安全以及与新的、有技术价值的材料开发相关的量子系统模拟等领域的最新技术。此外，在短波长下实现负折射率可能会对成像和隐形技术产生巨大影响，这些技术在工程和生物成像等许多领域都很重要。其次，该研究项目将有助于培养学生在科学和工程领域的职业生涯。培训将通过直接参与大学研究计划进行。我们还将向当地社区介绍原子物理学对信息技术的重要性以及光子学领域的新发展。威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校物理系的公众参观日、实验室参观以及参与当地媒体项目将促进对公众的宣传。