Research

Trapped-ion quantum technology utilizes atomic ions levitated in a vacuum for quantum technology applications by controlling them with electromagnetic waves.  As a blueprint, a distributed architecture in which small trapped-ion quantum computers are photonically interconnected.  In order to realize such an idea, trapped-ion quantum technology is facing major challenges in three different layers: trapped-ion quantum node, ion-photon interface and system for photonic interconnection.

Ion-trap quantum technology relies inevitably on laser control of quantum states.  Conventionally, a bunch of mirrors and lenses are rigidly mounted on a large optical table to implement one quantum node, however, this way of constructing large-scale trapped-ion quantum computer is not realistic.  Photonically integrated ion trap is an attempt to transform this kind of bulk optics into nano- or micro-scale photonic circuit on a mm-scale chip.  By doing so, we are aiming at realizing reproducible "plug-and-play" ion trap that will be advantageous in scaling up the number of photonically interconnected ion traps.

Atomic ions fit relatively nicely with photonic quantum technology for their optical transitions.  Through an objective lens we can collect fluorescence photons from ions and can utilize them for the quantum interconnection, called the photonic interconnection.  By making the whole system modular and compact, we are aiming at realizing a quantum network with multiple trapped-ion quantum nodes.