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Introduction

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A Single Trapped Rydberg Ion

Part of the book series: Springer Theses ((Springer Theses))

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Abstract

In the last decades researchers have achieved exquisite control of different quantum systems. This has allowed fundamental tests to be carried out, including studies of quantum measurements [1, 2], quantum contextuality [3] and the wave function [4, 5]; as well as Bell test experiments [6,7,8]. New technologies which take advantage of highly-controlled quantum systems are being pursued [9], and proof of principle devices capable of quantum computation [10, 11], quantum simulation [12], quantum communication [13] and quantum metrology [14] have been demonstrated. Some systems are more suitable than others as platforms for particular quantum technologies, just as some systems are more suitable than others for carrying out particular fundamental tests. For instance, the long coherence times of trapped ion qubits make for excellent quantum memories [15], while the propagation speed of photonic qubits allows the locality loophole to be closed in Bell test experiments. My thesis is concerned with a new experimental platform, namely a system of trapped Rydberg ions. This platform combines two established systems: trapped atomic ions and Rydberg atoms. In this opening chapter aspects of the two constituent technologies are summarised before trapped Rydberg ions are introduced.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    A recent preprint reports a genuine multipartite entangled state of 18 qubits stored on 6 photons [22].

  2. 2.

    While Rydberg-mediated nonlinear quantum optics is an exciting research field, it is unlikely to be closely linked to the novel trapped Rydberg ion system explored in this thesis. This is because trapped ion systems have much lower optical depths than atomic clouds. However, cavities could conceivably be used to enhance coupling between ions and either ultraviolet (UV) Rydberg-excitation photons or MW photons which couple Rydberg states [58, 59], to allow for nonlinear quantum optics mediated by Rydberg ions.

  3. 3.

    Rydberg states are not used for storing qubits because the lifetimes of the low-lying states typically used as qubits (\({}{\sim 1}{}\,\mathrm {s}\)) are around five orders of magnitude longer than Rydberg states with \(n=50\) (\({}{\sim 10}{}\,{{\upmu }\mathrm{s}}\)), while similar Rabi frequencies are used to manipulate low-lying states and to excite Rydberg states (\({}{\sim 2}{}\pi \times 1\,\mathrm {MHz}\)).

  4. 4.

    Throughout this thesis Russell-Saunders term symbols \(L_J\) describe total angular momentum quantum numbers. The multiplicity \(2S+1=2\) is omitted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, AlbaNova University Center, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden

    Gerard Higgins

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  1. Gerard Higgins
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Correspondence to Gerard Higgins .

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Higgins, G. (2019). Introduction. In: A Single Trapped Rydberg Ion. Springer Theses. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33770-4_1

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