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Krzyzanowska, Katarzyna
(2018).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21954/ou.ro.0000ce64
Abstract
In this work we report on the development progress of a cold atoms platform to demonstrate a model of quantum computation known as deterministic Quantum computing with One Clean Qubit (DQC1). This is a novel class of algorithms where interactions between qubits enable nonclassical correlations other than entanglement, namely discord. We aim to demonstrate the DQC1 protocol using a scheme in which the information processing is realized on cold neutral rubidium atoms through the cNOT gate based on a Rydberg blockade. The implementation of this protocol imposes very stringent requirements on the cloud of atoms: to realise the cNOT gate with high fidelity it is required that a full Rydberg blockade is operating throughout the extent of the ensemble. This means that a cloud of atoms needs to have a radius below approximately 5 μm (for Rydberg states of atoms n = 43).
A dipole trap system was designed and implemented during the course of this PhD with the aim of satisfying these experimental constraints. In our setup, a vapour of 87Rb is first trapped in a Magneto-Optical Trap (MOT) and cooled to sub-Doppler temperatures. The atoms are then subsequently trapped in the dipole trap. Our dipole trapping setup is based on a high numerical aperture lens (NA=0.53) to achieve a sub-micron trapping potential and simultaneously observe trapped atoms with a micrometre resolution. According to the design and the optical tests, the system is capable of creating the trapping potential with about 1 μm waist and 4 μm Rayleigh length.
The aim of this work was to examine and optimise experimental conditions under which the dipole trap should be operated, so that the sufficiently small trap for the DQC1 algorithm can be obtained in the future. For characterisation, a trap of a bigger volume (about 6 μm waist and 28 μm length) was setup instead of using the full capacity of the system. This enhanced the atom loading procedure and provided more convenient conditions for experiments. The temperature of atoms was typically around 250 μK, and the trap lifetime (2.5 s) was limited by the background collisions, which indicates that the vacuum was maintained on the expected level. The key findings of the thesis are that the properties of the atoms reservoir (MOT temperature and density), and the loading processes (intensity of MOT beams), need to be optimised to be able to load a micrometre size trap. These findings are instrumental for the future implementation of the DQC1 protocol and also have implications for other protocols founded on the use of a Rydberg blockade.
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