Low-decoherence quantum simulation of lattice spin models with trapped ions

Tuesday, September 6, 2011 - 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Reiss 502
Wes Campbell
University of Maryland

We use a collection of trapped atomic ions as a platform for the quantum simulation of lattice spin models. By applying spin-dependent optical dipole forces to an ion crystal, a long-range effective spin-spin interaction arises that allows the simulation of spin Hamiltonians that possess nontrivial order in their ground state. The use of mode-locked lasers to create these state-dependent potentials allows operation in a spectral region that is relatively free of laser-induced decoherence, which has previously been a limitation in efforts to scale up the system size. I will discuss current efforts to extend our simulations to large (>20) numbers of qubits.

Host: Jim Freericks
Discussion Leader: Jim Freericks