NIST researchers played a key role in the development of quantum computing in the 1990s, building on their expertise in atomic clocks and ion trapping technology. The NIST ion lab in Boulder, Colorado became a hub for quantum information research after researchers recognized the parallels between atomic clock experiments and quantum computing concepts.
In 1994, NIST physicist Charles Clark organized a workshop that brought together physicists, mathematicians, and computer scientists to discuss quantum computing and communication. This workshop, along with presentations by Artur Ekert and Ignacio Cirac and Peter Zoller, inspired researchers to explore the potential of trapped ions for quantum computing.
NIST researchers Wineland and Monroe used lasers to control the energy states of individual ions, demonstrating the first logic gate based on individual quantum bits in 1995. This work laid the foundation for subsequent quantum computing experiments and highlighted the importance of atomic physics expertise in advancing quantum technologies.
Keywords: qubits, quantum information, atomic clocks
