Arrays of individually controlled ions suitable for two-dimensional quantum simulations

Published

June 13, 2016

Author(s)

Manuel Mielenz, Henning Kalis, Matthias Wittemer, Frederick Hakelberg, Roman Blain, Peter Maunz, Dietrich Leibfried, Tobias Schaetz

Abstract

A custom-built and precisely controlled quantum system may o ffer access to a fundamental understanding of another, less accessible system of interest. A universal quantum computer is currently out of reach, but an analog quantum simulator (AQS) that makes the relevant observables, interactions, and states of a quantum model accessible could permit experimental insight into complex quantum dynamics that are intractable on conventional computers. Several platforms have been suggested and proof-of-principle experiments have been conducted. Here we characterise two-dimensional arrays of three ions trapped by radio-frequency fi elds in individually controlled harmonic wells forming equilateral triangles with side lengths 40 m and 80 m. In our approach, which is scalable to arbitrary two dimensional lattices, we demonstrate individual control of the electronic and motional degrees of freedom, preparation of a fiducial initial state with ion motion close to the ground state, as well as tuning of crucial couplings between ions within experimental sequences. Our work paves the way towards AQS of two-dimensional systems designed at will.

Citation

Nature Communications

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

analog quatum simulation, quantum control, trapped ions

Citation

Mielenz, M. , Kalis, H. , Wittemer, M. , Hakelberg, F. , Blain, R. , Maunz, P. , Leibfried, D. and Schaetz, T. (2016), Arrays of individually controlled ions suitable for two-dimensional quantum simulations, Nature Communications (Accessed December 17, 2024)