NIST physicists have developed a new method for creating precise amounts of quantum motion in an ion, up to 100 quanta of energy, more than five times the previous record. This achievement demonstrates precise control at the quantum level and could improve quantum measurements and computing.
The team controlled the pendulum-like motion of a single beryllium ion to simultaneously exhibit two different amounts of motional quanta: zero (minimum motion) plus any number up to 18. This “superposition” of two states is a hallmark of the quantum world.
The new techniques could lead to new types of quantum simulators and sensors using phonons as carriers of information. The ability to tailor superposition states can improve quantum measurements and information processing. Using the ion in a superposition as a frequency-measurement instrument more than doubled the precision compared with conventional measurements.
The experiments were performed with a single beryllium ion held 40 micrometers above the gold electrodes of a chilled electromagnetic trap. The new results were possible because NIST researchers were able to minimize unwanted factors such as stray electric fields that exchange energy with and disrupt the ion.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2019/07/nist-physicists-create-record-setting-quantum-motion
Keywords: phonons, superposition, quantum-enhanced
