Researchers at NIST have developed a new method to control individual quantum bits (qubits) in quantum computers using polarized light. The technique involves creating “effective” magnetic fields with polarized light to manipulate pairs of rubidium atoms, which serve as qubits in neutral-atom quantum processors.
The key challenge in quantum computing is maintaining control over qubits while isolating them from environmental disturbances. NIST’s approach addresses this by using two pairs of energy states within each rubidium atom – one pair for memory storage and another for computation. By changing the “hat” between these pairs using magnetic fields, researchers can control individual qubits without affecting neighboring ones.
This method could be extended to select specific qubits in a larger quantum processor, bringing quantum computing closer to reality. However, the long-term challenge remains integrating all necessary components into a single apparatus with many qubits.
Keywords: qubits, magnetic fields, polarized light, quantum computing, neutral-atom
