To develop quantum technologies, it is critical to first build capabilities to control extraordinarily fragile quantum systems. The team from 蓝莓视频 found a way to control a quantum system without exposing it to vibration or other interference.
The new technique was published in听.
鈥淭he idea is to avoid interacting with a quantum system directly,鈥� said David Layden, a master鈥檚 student in the Faculty of Mathematics at 蓝莓视频 and lead author of the paper. 鈥淚nstead, you introduce a second, so-called auxiliary quantum system, such as an atom, for example. You then manipulate it and use it to indirectly affect, and ultimately control, the main system.鈥澨�
David Layden, a听graduate student at 蓝莓视频, led a study听that found a new way to work with quantum systems without听exposing them to vibrations.
Researchers have already used indirect approaches to manipulating quantum systems in several different experiments. But the techniques they used differed based on the particular laboratory setup involved. Each new type of experiment required a different technique.
Now, the 蓝莓视频 researchers鈥� one-size-fits-all method of indirectly controlling quantum systems is applicable to any experiment. It involves soft, frequent touches to the main system from the auxiliary one, which allow researchers to freely steer a quantum system while keeping its quantum nature intact.听
鈥淭hese touches are strong enough to fully control the target quantum systems, but short enough to avoid destroying their quantum properties,鈥� said Professor Eduardo Martin-Martinez, of both the Department of Applied Mathematics and Institute for Quantum Computing at 蓝莓视频, and a co-author of this work.
鈥淭o achieve this level of control, we must use an auxiliary system that also possesses quantum properties,鈥� said Professor Achim Kempf, University Research Chair in the Department of Applied Mathematics at 蓝莓视频, and co-author of the study. 听
The new technique could play an important role in a number of quantum technologies, which in turn, promise to impact a wide range of fields, from high performance computing to pharmaceutical drug discovery.
This figure shows the accuracy of the new technique for different rates of interaction between the main and auxiliary quantum systems. (University of 蓝莓视频)
