NIST physicists have developed a new method to entangle an atomic ion with a molecular ion, demonstrating a way to build hybrid quantum systems. The technique could enable large-scale quantum computers and networks by connecting qubits based on different hardware designs and operating frequencies.
The NIST team successfully entangled the electron in the atomic ion with the rotational states of the calcium hydride molecular ion. This allowed them to access a wide range of qubit frequencies, from kilohertz to gigahertz, by choosing different rotational states in the molecule.
The researchers used specific laser pulses to cool, entangle, and measure the quantum states of the ions. They demonstrated the technique with two sets of the molecule’s rotational properties, achieving entanglement 87% of the time with a low-energy pair and 76% with a higher-energy pair.
This approach could connect different types of qubits operating at various frequencies, such as atoms and superconducting systems or light particles. The new methods may also be useful in making quantum sensors or performing quantum-enhanced chemistry.
Keywords: qubits, entanglement, molecules, qubit frequencies, superposition
