Quantum Information Lab

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About 

Our research is focused on Quantum Information, as implemented in an ion trap platform. Quantum information devices utilize quantum properties such as superposition, to solve specific problems more efficiently than classical processors. Innovative Physics and Quantum Information methods together with engineering solutions drive these devices to larger scales (more qubits) and higher operation fidelities. Problems that benefit from quantum processors include development of drugs by simulating the behavior of complex molecules, investigation of exotic materials such as high-temperature superconductors or disrupting current communication encryption protocols while providing new un-hackable ones. 

The specific processor we are building is well suited for the flavor of Quantum Computing called Analog Quantum Simulation. We prepare a set of qubits in an initial state and then apply a synthetic Hamiltonian mimicking real-system behavior, causing their state to evolve. This evolution typically builds up entanglement between the qubits, making the calculation in a classical computer inefficient, but inherently efficient in its quantum counterpart. 

Our qubits are made out of single ionized atoms, floating in ultrahigh vacuum and manipulated with lasers. A large part of our lab relies on utilizing AMO Physics methods, such as Doppler cooling.  

Team 

Antonis Kyprianidis, Asst Professor

antonios.kyprianidis@louisville.edu | View Research Profile

Our Work

  • Quantum simulation 
  • AMO Physics 
  • Quantum magnetism 
  • Ion trapping 
  • [Hardware] Design and assembly of ECDL-type, low-power lasers, based on blueprints. In collaboration with the Physics Machine Shop. Knowledge of laser light generation and frequency manipulation will be acquired, together with some machining expertise. Such lasers are needed to manipulate the atoms, aka our quantum processor. 
  • [Hardware] Laser beam path design and implementation, including choice of appropriate optics elements, mounts, and enclosure. Knowledge about laser beam characteristics will be gained and used to choose and mount optics that shape the laser beams to have desired characteristics. These characteristics are dictated by what kind of manipulation the user needs to do on the quantum bits (atoms). 
  • [Hardware] Electronic box design and construction: Construction of small electronic boxes to house small elements such as cable-breakouts or RF amplifiers. Basic electronic box design, electronic components, and soldering skills will be acquired. Such boxes are needed in research labs to allow for customized operation of electric and electronic components. 
  • [Software] Laboratory control software coding. Starting point: the ArtiQ library, a Python-based open-source project. The control software takes user input and carries out the computation of waveforms and the scheduling of trigger pulses that coordinate multiple pieces of apparatus to work in tandem and ultimately implement a quantum algorithm. The control software acts as the brain of our apparatus: it tells each component when to turn on and off, and what exactly to do, allowing for complex sequences to be run in our quantum processor. 
  • [Theory and software] Interaction graph engineering. Ions inside a trap assemble into crystals exhibiting normal modes of collective, oscillatory motion. These modes dictate the quantum magnetism models that can be simulated with these crystals. This project aims to investigate some aspects of this relation, such as suitability of axial versus transverse modes, or mathematical criteria for whether a quantum magnetism model is simulable or not. The models simulable in trapped-ion quantum processors are an active area of research and as it is expanding, the research community benefits from systematically categorizing its capabilities. 
  • [Theory and software] Open quantum systems. Open quantum systems are systems consisting of one or more quantum particles, interacting with some kind of environment. Simulating such systems with trapped ions involves investigating how specific aspects of the hardware (such as the ion crystal’s motion, or weak interaction between the crystal and laser beams) can be used to simulate the effect of such an environment. Open quantum systems are a motivating area of research, because they encode how realistic quantum systems behave, and provide insight into phenomena like quantum decoherence. 
  • [Hardware and software] Optimization of readout in trapped-ion quantum simulators. Scientific cameras, such as the EMCCD type, allow us to resolve the measurement result for every individual atom (qubit) in the system. However, the higher signal-to-noise ratio of their readout poses limits to their fidelity. We will investigate hardware and software approaches to mitigating those errors. This will allow to get the best of both words: individual site resolution, and high readout fidelity. 
  • [Theory/software/hardware] Investigation of how ambient electric field noise affects heating of ions. Stray electric fields of random amplitude and frequency inside an ion trap exert a force on the ion qubits, causing decoherence and ultimately heating them and causing them to escape the confines of the trap. We will investigate the effect or different kinds of such noise based on their power spectrum. This project may contain one or more components between theory (developing a mathematical model for this heating), software (running numerical calculations to support/further the model), and hardware (implementing measurements on our actual ions inside our ion trap). The ion trap community is interested in ion heating and research on how different power spectra of noise affect it is limited.  
  • [For art minors/majors, or students with an interest in Physics and Art] Art inspired by (Quantum) Physics. An example is “Teleportation Disk” by Joel Russell Huffman. From a personal interest in artistic expression and transforming concepts of personal interest into visual artistic expression, I am interested in co-mentoring students in projects seeking all or part of their inspiration in the mind-numbing concepts of Physics, Quantum or not. 

Quantum Information Lab

A&S Department of Physics and Astronomy

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Natural Sciences Building

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