Quantum information processing has reached an inflection point, transitioning from proof-of-principle scientific experiments to small, noisy quantum processors. To accelerate this process and eventually move to fault-tolerant quantum computing, it is necessary to provide the scientific community with access to whitebox testbed systems. The Quantum Scientific Computing Open User Testbed (QSCOUT) provides scientists unique access to an innovative system to help advance quantum computing science.
Microfabricated surface ion traps are a principal component of many ion-based quantum information science platforms. The operational parameters of these devices are pushed to the edge of their physical capabilities as the experiments strive for increasing performance. When the applied radio-frequency (RF) voltage is increased excessively, the devices can experience damaging electric discharge events known as RF breakdown. We introduce two novel techniques for in situ detection of RF breakdown, which we implemented while characterizing the breakdown threshold of surface ion traps produced at Sandia National Laboratories. In these traps, breakdown did not always occur immediately after increasing the RF voltage, but often minutes or even hours later. This result is surprising in the context of the suggested mechanisms for RF breakdown in vacuum. Additionally, the extent of visible damage caused by breakdown events increased with the applied voltage. To minimize the probability for damage when RF power is first applied to a device, our results strongly suggest that the voltage should be ramped up over the course of several hours and monitored for breakdown.
Simulated previous quantum chemistry experiments using JAQAL (Just Another Quantum Assembly Language), matching expected results. Lays the groundwork for QSCOUT (Quantum Scientific Computing Open User Testbed) users to conduct their own quantum experiments, and tests the capabilities of the JAQAL language.
The Quantum Scientific Computing Open User Testbed (QSCOUT) at Sandia National Laboratories is a trapped-ion qubit system designed to evaluate the potential of near-term quantum hardware in scientific computing applications for the U.S. Department of Energy and its Advanced Scientific Computing Research program. Similar to commercially available platforms, it offers quantum hardware that researchers can use to perform quantum algorithms, investigate noise properties unique to quantum systems, and test novel ideas that will be useful for larger and more powerful systems in the future. However, unlike most other quantum computing testbeds, the QSCOUT allows both quantum circuit and low-level pulse control access to study new modes of programming and optimization. The purpose of this article is to provide users and the general community with details of the QSCOUT hardware and its interface, enabling them to take maximum advantage of its capabilities.
The Frequency Translation to Demonstrate a Hybrid Quantum Architecture project focused on developing nonlinear optics to couple two different ion species and make their emitted UV photons indistinguishable. Successful demonstration of photonic coupling of different ion species lays the foundation for coupling drastically different types of qubits, such as ions and quantum dots. Frequency conversion of single photons emitted from single ions remains a "hot" topic with many groups pursing this effort; however due to challenges in producing short period periodically poled crystal it has yet to be realized. This report details the efforts of trying to frequency convert single photons emitted from trapped ions to other wavelengths. We present our theoretical studies of candidate platforms for frequency conversion: photonic crystal fibers, X(2) nonlinear crystals in optical cavities, and photonic crystal cavities. We also present experiment results in ion trapping X(2) nonlinear crystals measurements and photonic crystal fabrication
In this report we describe the construction and characterization of a small quantum processor based on trapped ions. This processor could ultimately be used to perform analogue quantum simulations with an engineered computationally-cold bath for increasing the system's robustness to noise. We outline the requirements to build such a simulator, including individual addressing, distinguishable detection, and low crosstalk between operations, and our methods to implement and characterize these requirements. Specifically for measuring crosstalk, we introduce a new method, simultaneous gate set tomography to characterize crosstalk errors.