QUANTUM PROCESSORS

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S. Torres & P. Bruna, DFA, UPC

3. QUANTUM PROCESSORS

3.1 Conditions for quantum computation

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Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons. - Popular Mechanis, 1949 I think there is a world market for maybe five computers - Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943 How can we build a Qubit? Photons and nonlinear optical media, ion traps, cavity quantum electrodynamics devices, nuclear magnetic resonances, electrons spin.. What are the experimental requirements for building a Quantum Computer? How to build quantum gates? How to prepare qubits in desired initial states? How to measure? Quantum noise (decoherence problem)

3. QUANTUM PROCESSORS

3.1 Conditions for quantum computation

Trade-off between:

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Decoherence time, Q: the time a system remains quantummechanically coherent Operation time, OP: the time it takes to perform unitary transformations (coupling with the external world)

System
Nuclear spin Electron spin Ion trap Optical cavity

Q (s)

OP (s)

nop
105-1014 104 1013 109

10-2-108 10-3 10-1 10-5

10-3-106

10-7 10-14 10-14

Microwave cavity
Quantum dot

100
10-6
Q/ OP

10-4
10-9

104
103

Number of operations, nOP: the ratio

3. QUANTUM PROCESSORS

3.1 Conditions for quantum computation

Basic requirements for quantum computation:

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1. Representation of quantum information. Qubits are two level quantum systems: accessible states should be finite and well defined 2. Operatibility to perform a universal family of unitary transformations. Any unitary transformation can be composed by single spin orientations and controlled-Not gates Ability to adress individual qubits 3. Prepare a fiducial initial state. Not necessary to reproduce any specific quantum state Enough to reproduce |0 0 0 > (for example n spins in the same state) 4. Measurement the output state. 1. Measurament: coupling qubits to classical systems 2. The system should be swiched-off, otherwise cause quantum collapse (decoherence).

3. QUANTUM PROCESSORS

3.2 Optical photon quantum computer

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Photons: Elementary particles of light Particle-like characteristics appear a low light powers At macroscopic scales light appears as a electromagnetic waves Generated by accelerating a charge Electric field, magnetic field perpendicular to the propagation (ray direction). Constant universal speed in vacuum: c= The speed depends on the media: refraction index, n=c/v

3. QUANTUM PROCESSORS

3.2 Optical photon quantum computer

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Polarization: Linear: If the electric field remains parallel to a plane perpendicular to the propagation direction Circular: if the electric field rotates Elliptical: a combination of linear and circular

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0qrU4nprB0 How to polarize light: absortion, reflection, scatering and birefrigence

3. QUANTUM PROCESSORS

3.2 Optical photon quantum computer

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Absortion: dichroic material absorb light along a unique direction and transmit along the transmissions axis (TA)

Malus law: irradiance for any relative angle polarizer and analizer is: I=I0cos2

and between TAs of the

3. QUANTUM PROCESSORS

3.2 Optical photon quantum computer

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Reflection: reflected light is partially polarized, but when reflected and refracted angles are perpendicular, reflected light is completely polarized. Polarization angle or Brewster angle: n1sin p=n2sin 2 and 2=900- p, then tg p=n2/n1

3. QUANTUM PROCESSORS

3.2 Optical photon quantum computer

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Scattering: removing energy from the original wave and re-emitting in all directions. Oscillating dipoles radiates more energy in the shorter wavelength that in longer (Why the sky is blue?)

3. QUANTUM PROCESSORS

3.2 Optical photon quantum computer

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Birefringence: polarization with two refractive indices Two rays appear: ordinary ray (o) and an extraordinary ray (e) The two rays are perpendicularly polarized (PBS, polarization beam splitter)

3. QUANTUM PROCESSORS

3.2 Optical photon quantum computer

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Birefringence: the speed of light in the plate is smaller in the optical axis. This causes a wavelength delayed. Depending on the width of the plate we can build a QWP: quarter wave plate, produces circular polarization HWP: half wave plate, changes to the perpendicular direction