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Designer atom arrays for quantum computing

A key step in the development of quantum computers that use neutral atoms as quantum bits is the assembly of tailored 3D arrays of atoms. Two laser-based approaches have now been reported to do this.
  1. Nathan Lundblad

    1. Nathan Lundblad is in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Bates College, Lewiston, Maine 04240, USA.

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Quantum computers and simulators are of enormous interest because of their potential to shed light on mysteries of physics that are difficult to model using conventional computers. Some physical platforms used in realizing quantum-computing protocols — including trapped ions and several solid-state systems based on superconductors — have received increased attention in the past year. But in this issue, two groups report technical breakthroughs that will aid the development of another platform: trapped neutral atoms. Barredo et al.1 report their use of precision optical-engineering methods to sort atoms into arbitrary 3D patterns, whereas Kumar et al.2 construct cubic lattices by revisiting a fanciful thought experiment known as Maxwell’s demon. The ability to organize neutral atoms exactly into planned 3D arrays will be valuable for the development of neutral-atom quantum computers that use a large number of quantum bits (qubits).

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Nature 561, 43-44 (2018)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-018-06107-8

References

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