Detection of loss or undesirable rearrangement of quantum objects

Abstract

Various embodiments provide a method, apparatus, system, or computer program product for performing detection of loss of a quantum object. The method, performed by a controller of a quantum computer, includes controlling one or more voltage sources to cause a quantum object confinement device to confine a crystal of a quantum object, the crystal of the quantum object (i) including at least one of (a) a first species quantum object or (b) a second species quantum object and (ii) defining a crystal axis aligned along an RF null axis of the quantum object confinement device; causing at least one control electrode of a plurality of control electrodes to provide at least one first control signal, the at least one first control signal causing the at least one control electrode to generate a pushing field configured to rotate the crystal axis of the quantum object relative to the RF null axis.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross - reference to Related Applications This application claims the priority of U.S. Patent Application No. 18 / 454,336, filed on August 23, 2023, which claims the priority of U.S. Patent Application No. 63 / 408,753, filed on September 21, 2022, and the contents of these patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0002] Various embodiments relate to apparatuses, systems, and methods related to detecting the loss or undesirable rearrangement of quantum objects within a quantum object confinement device. For example, some exemplary embodiments relate to detecting the loss of qubits in a quantum computer.

Background Art

[0003] Quantum computing is the use of quantum phenomena such as superposition and entanglement to perform computations. In particular, qubits are acted upon to cause and / or control the evolution of the quantum state of a qubit in order to perform one or more computations. Trapped ion quantum computers utilize ions confined by an ion trap as data qubits used for such computations. However, in various scenarios, ions may interact with, for example, a background gas and be expelled from the ion trap. Thus, loss or undesirable rearrangement of ions may occur during or even before computation, leading to errors in the resulting computation. It is difficult to effectively and accurately detect loss or undesirable rearrangement of ions during computation in an ion trap without causing qubit errors or otherwise adversely affecting the ions, even if no loss has occurred. Through effort, ingenuity, and innovation, many of the shortcomings of such conventional detection techniques have been overcome by developing solutions constructed according to embodiments of the present invention, many examples of which are described in detail herein. [Overview of the Initiative] [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] Exemplary embodiments provide methods, systems, apparatus, computer program products, etc., for determining, identifying, and / or detecting when a quantum object is no longer in its expected position as defined by a quantum object confinement device. Various embodiments correspond, for example, to quantum computers, such as quantum charge-coupled device (QCCD) based quantum computers, and to determining and / or identifying when a quantum object is no longer in its expected position as defined by a quantum object confinement device. For example, the qubits of a quantum computer may be atoms and / or ions, or other quantum particles that may be part of a crystal and / or group of quantum objects. In various embodiments, quantum objects are captured and / or confined within quantum object confinement devices such as ion traps, surface ion traps, etc.

[0005] In various embodiments, in order to accurately detect a quantum object without causing qubit errors or otherwise adversely affecting the quantum state of at least one qubit when no loss has occurred, the loss or repositioning of the quantum object from the confinement device is detected before all readings of the quantum state of at least one qubit in the crystal of the quantum object. For example, a push field and / or oscillating potential may be generated to rotate the crystal axis of the quantum object's crystal with respect to the RF null axis of the confinement region such that the crystal axis has a vector component transverse to the RF null axis. When the quantum object in the confinement region is not positioned on the RF null axis, the quantum object experiences an oscillating radial force as a result of a trapping pseudopotential. This oscillating radial force causes the quantum object to be positioned off the RF null axis and exhibit oscillation and / or small reciprocating motion. The detection beam is either frequency-modulated at the RF drive frequency or detuned only by the RF drive frequency of the second-kind quantum object from a specific transition, and when a detection beam is provided incident on the crystal of the rotated quantum object, the vibrational motion of the second-kind quantum object causes the detection beam to resonate with the specific transition. In various embodiments, the specific transition is a micromotion sideband transition corresponding to the vibration and / or small reciprocating motion of the quantum object. Thus, the second-kind quantum object emits fluorescence and / or stimulated emission in response to the incidence of the detection beam on it. The detection beam is off-resonant from the qubit space and / or transition from the ground state of the first-kind quantum object. Stimulated emission may be detected, and it may be determined whether both members of the crystal of the quantum object are present and whether ion loss or undesirable rearrangement has occurred in the crystal of the quantum object.

[0006] According to a first aspect, a method is provided that is performed by a controller of a quantum computer. In an exemplary embodiment, the method is a step of controlling one or more voltage sources to confine a crystal of a quantum object in a quantum object confinement device, wherein the quantum object confinement device includes (a) one or more RF electrodes that define the radio frequency (RF) null axis of the quantum object confinement device, and (b) a plurality of control electrodes, wherein the crystal of the quantum object includes (i) at least one of (a) a quantum object of a first kind or (b) a quantum object of a second kind, and (ii) defines a crystal axis that is aligned along the RF null axis of the quantum object confinement device, and a step of causing at least one of the plurality of control electrodes to provide at least one first control signal, wherein at least one first control signal causes at least one control electrode to generate a push field configured to rotate the crystal axis of the quantum object with respect to the RF null axis such that the crystal axis has a vector component transverse to the RF null axis, and a manipulation source (manipulation The process includes the steps of: causing a source to generate and provide a modulated detection beam that is incident on at least a portion of the crystal of the quantum object; receiving a signal indicating the response of the crystal of the quantum object to the incident modulated detection beam on at least a portion of the crystal of the quantum object; and determining, based on the signal, whether both (a) a quantum object of a first kind and (b) a quantum object of a second kind are present in the crystal of the quantum object.

[0007] In an exemplary embodiment, in response to the absence of (a) a quantum object of the first kind or (b) a quantum object of the second kind, the method further includes the step of controlling one or more voltage sources to cause the confinement device to confine a crystal of a new quantum object within the confinement device.

[0008] In exemplary embodiments, when a second type of quantum object is not detected by a modulated detection beam, a loss of quantum object occurs in the quantum object crystal, and the loss of quantum object includes the absence of a first type or second type of quantum object from the quantum object confinement device.

[0009] In exemplary embodiments, in response to the presence of both (a) a quantum object of a first kind and (b) a quantum object of a second kind, the method further includes the steps of: initiating the execution of a quantum circuit using a quantum object of the first kind within a quantum object confinement device; identifying a read function to be performed on the quantum object of the first kind during the execution of the quantum circuit, wherein, in response to the identification of the read function to be performed, at least one first control signal is provided to at least one control electrode, and an operating source is caused to generate and provide a read beam; and continuing the execution of the quantum circuit.

[0010] In an exemplary embodiment, the method further includes the steps of receiving a reading result in response to at least a partial incidence of a reading beam onto a quantum object of a first kind, and tuning a quantum circuit at least partially based on the reading result so that the tuned quantum circuit is executed.

[0011] In an exemplary embodiment, the first type of quantum object is a data qubit in a quantum computer, and the second type of quantum object is a sympathetic cooling ion.

[0012] In an exemplary embodiment, the first type of quantum object is a Ba ion, and the second type of quantum object is a Yb ion.

[0013] In an exemplary embodiment, a modulated detection beam incident on at least a portion of the quantum object crystal has a wavelength tuned to the micro-sideband of a second type of quantum object.

[0014] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a controller is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the controller is operablely connected to one or more components of a system including a quantum object confinement device. The confinement device includes (a) one or more RF electrodes that define the radio frequency (RF) null axis of the quantum object confinement device, and (b) a plurality of control electrodes, and one or more components of the system include (a) a voltage source and (b) an operation source. The controller controls one or more voltage sources to confine a crystal of a quantum object in the quantum object confinement device, such that the crystal of the quantum object includes (i) at least one of (a) a quantum object of a first kind or (b) a quantum object of a second kind, and (ii) defines a crystal axis aligned along the RF null axis of the quantum object confinement device, and causes at least one first control signal to be provided to at least one of the plurality of control electrodes, such that at least one first control signal is provided to at least one control electrode so that the crystal axis is aligned along the RF null axis The system is configured to generate and provide a push field configured to rotate the crystal axis of a quantum object with respect to the RF null axis such that it has a vector component in the direction laterally with respect to the axis; to generate and provide a modulated detection beam incident on at least a portion of the crystal of the quantum object to the operating source; to receive a signal indicating the response of the crystal of the quantum object to the incident modulated detection beam on at least a portion of the crystal of the quantum object; and to determine, based on the signal, that both (a) a quantum object of the first kind and (b) a quantum object of the second kind are present in the crystal of the quantum object.

[0015] In another aspect of this disclosure, a computer program product is provided. The computer program product includes a non-temporary computer-readable medium for storing executable instructions. The executable instructions, when executed by a processing device of the controller configured to control the operation of one or more components of a quantum computer, involve the controller controlling one or more voltage sources to confine a crystal of a quantum object in a quantum object confinement device, wherein the quantum object confinement device includes (a) one or more RF electrodes defining a radio frequency (RF) null axis of the quantum object confinement device, and (b) a plurality of control electrodes, and the crystal of the quantum object includes (i) at least one of (a) a quantum object of a first kind or (b) a quantum object of a second kind, and (ii) a crystal axis that is aligned along the RF null axis of the quantum object confinement device, and controlling at least one first control signal to a plurality of control signals The configuration is such that at least one control electrode provides at least one first control signal which causes at least one control electrode to generate and provide a push field configured to rotate the crystal axis of the quantum object with respect to the RF null axis such that the crystal axis has a vector component transverse to the RF null axis; an operating source generates and provides a modulated detection beam which is incident on at least a portion of the crystal of the quantum object; the operating source receives a signal which indicates the response of the crystal of the quantum object to the incidence of the modulated detection beam which is incident on at least a portion of the crystal of the quantum object; and based on the signal which determines whether both (a) a quantum object of a first kind and (b) a quantum object of a second kind are present in the crystal of the quantum object.

[0016] Having given a general overview of the present invention, the attached drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to the correct scale, will be referenced from here on. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of the detection function according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram of a quantum object detection function according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram of another quantum object detection function according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a top view of an exemplary quantum object confinement device that may be used in exemplary embodiments. [Figure 5] This is a flowchart of various processes, procedures, and / or operations that may be performed by the controller of a quantum object confinement device to perform, for example, a quantum object detection function, according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 6] This schematic diagram illustrates exemplary quantum computing systems configured to perform one or more quantum object detection functions according to various embodiments. [Figure 7] This is a schematic diagram of an exemplary controller for a quantum computer configured to perform one or more quantum object detection functions according to various embodiments. [Figure 8] This is a schematic diagram of an exemplary computing entity of a quantum computer system that may be used in exemplary embodiments. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] The present invention will be more fully described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate embodiments that are part of but not all of the present invention. Indeed, the present invention may be carried out in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described herein, but rather these embodiments are provided to satisfy any legal requirements to which this disclosure may apply. The term “or” (also written as “ / ”) is used herein in both disjunctive and conjunctive senses unless otherwise indicated. The terms “explanatory” and “exemplary” are used to mean examples and do not indicate a level of quality. The terms “generally,” “substantially,” and “about” mean within engineering and / or manufacturing tolerances, and / or within the user’s measurement capabilities, unless otherwise indicated. Throughout, similar numbers refer to similar elements.

[0019] In various embodiments, methods, apparatuses, systems, computer program products, etc. are provided for determining, identifying, and / or detecting when a quantum object has disappeared from a predicted position of the quantum object defined by a quantum object confinement apparatus. In various embodiments, a crystal of quantum objects including at least one of (a) a first type of quantum object or (b) a second type of quantum object is confined within a quantum object confinement apparatus (also referred to herein as a confinement apparatus). In various embodiments, the first type of quantum object and the second type of quantum object are two different types of ions (e.g., having different atomic numbers), different isotopes of the same type, or different sets of energy levels within the same type (e.g., ground state and metastable state). In various embodiments, the first type of quantum object and the second type of quantum object are disposed within the same potential well of the confinement region and interact with each other by Coulomb repulsion between the first type of quantum object and the second type of quantum object. In various embodiments, the quantum object may be part of a crystal of quantum objects including a qubit quantum object (e.g., a qubit ion) and a sympathetic cooling (SC) quantum object (e.g., an SC ion). In various embodiments, the confinement apparatus is a trap or other apparatus configured to confine a crystal of a plurality of quantum objects.

[0020] In various embodiments, the confinement device is configured to enable the performance of various functions for controlling quantum states and / or determining the quantum states of one or more qubit quantum objects. In particular, a detection function may be used to determine whether a loss of quantum objects has occurred in the quantum object crystal. Figure 1 provides a schematic top view of an exemplary detection function according to an exemplary embodiment. A quantum object crystal 110 containing at least one of (a) a first-kind quantum object 110A or (b) a second-kind quantum object 110B is confined within a confinement region 100 of the confinement device. The first-kind quantum object 110A and the second-kind quantum object 110B are located in the same potential well generated by the confinement device and interact with each other by a Coulomb repulsion force 180 between the first-kind quantum object 110A and the second-kind quantum object 110B. The exemplary confinement device includes at least one radio frequency (RF) electrode and a plurality of control electrodes. In various embodiments, at least one RF electrode generates a trapping field configured to confine the quantum body crystal 110 within the confinement region 100 of the confinement device. At least one RF electrode defines the RF null axis 105 of the confinement region 100. In exemplary embodiments, the RF null axis 105 is the longitudinal axis of at least a portion of the confinement region 100. Generally, the quantum body crystal 110 is positioned and / or aligned along the RF null axis 105 such that the crystal axis 190 defined by the quantum body crystal is substantially aligned with the RF null axis 105.

[0021] When a readout function is executed to determine the quantum state of a qubit quantum object, the readout beam 115 is provided in the confinement region 100 such that the readout beam 115 is at least partially incident on the first type of quantum object 110A. In various embodiments, the readout beam 115 is incident on the first type of quantum object at a readout incident angle α. In various embodiments, the readout beam 115 is a laser beam characterized by a frequency / wavelength that resonates with a particular transition of the first type of quantum object 110A. For example, the particular transition may be a transition from a first state (e.g., qubit state 1) to another state (e.g., qubit state 0 or another quantum state of the quantum object). When the readout beam 115 is incident on the first type of quantum object 110A and the quantum object is in the first state, the first type of quantum object 110A emits fluorescence by emitting stimulated emission 120. In various embodiments, the stimulated emission 120 is emitted by the first type of quantum object 110A at various emission angles θ. At least a portion of the stimulated emission 120 is detected by the detector 125. In various embodiments, the detector 125 communicates with a controller and / or other computing entity configured to receive an indication of the detection of the stimulated emission 120 by the detector 125.

[0022] A qubit may be read and / or detected by providing a read beam (e.g., a laser beam having a frequency / wavelength that resonates with a particular quantum transition of the quantum object being used as a qubit) that is incident on the qubit to be read (e.g., a quantum object). For example, if a qubit (e.g., a quantum object) fluoresces in response to the incidence of a read beam on it, the qubit is in a certain state (e.g., state 1), and if a qubit (e.g., a quantum object) does not fluoresce in response to the incidence of a read beam on it, the qubit is in another state (e.g., state 0). For example, the read beam may be configured to stimulate emission of a specific frequency / wavelength by the qubit (e.g., a quantum object) when the qubit is in a particular state, and not to stimulate emission of a specific frequency / wavelength when the qubit is not in a particular state.

[0023] However, in various scenarios, first-kind quantum objects and / or second-kind quantum objects may be removed from or expelled from the confinement area of ​​the confinement device, or their positions may be rearranged. For example, collisions between background atoms and first-kind or second-kind quantum objects may expel them from the confinement area of ​​the confinement device. Performing quantum computation with one or more quantum objects missing from or incorrectly ordered from the quantum confinement device can lead to computational errors. For example, when attempting to read and / or determine the quantum state of a quantum object that is actually missing from the confinement device, the reading operation may result in determining that the quantum object is in a non-fluorescent state, which may not be an accurate representation of what state the quantum object would be in if it were present. In various embodiments, first-kind quantum objects are configured to be data qubits in a quantum computer, and second-kind quantum objects are configured to be co-cooled ions. In various embodiments, first-kind quantum objects are single qubits used for qubits. 171 Yb+ The second type of quantum object may be an ion, and is a single object used for co-cooling. 138 Ba + These may be ions. Various other ionic species are used as first-kind and second-kind quantum objects in various embodiments.

[0024] In various embodiments, a pressure field and / or vibrational potential may be generated (for example, by applying a control signal to at least one of the RF electrodes and / or a plurality of control electrodes) and experienced by the quantum object crystal 110 in order to rotate the quantum object crystal 110 with respect to the RF null axis. For example, the quantum object crystal is rotated such that the crystal axis 190 has a vector component transverse to the RF null axis 105.

[0025] When a quantum object is positioned on the RF null axis 105, it experiences no radial force (e.g., a force substantially perpendicular to the RF null axis 105) as a result of the trapping pseudopotential generated as a result of an RF voltage being applied to at least one RF electrode. However, when a quantum object within the confinement region 100 is not positioned on the RF null axis 105, it experiences an oscillating radial force as a result of the trapping pseudopotential. This oscillating radial force causes quantum objects positioned off the RF null axis 105 to exhibit oscillation and / or small reciprocating motion.

[0026] When the crystal of quantum bodies is rotated such that the crystal axis 190 has a vector component transverse (e.g., substantially perpendicular) with respect to the RF null axis 105, the quantum bodies push each other away from the RF null axis 105 due to the Coulomb repulsion 180 between the quantum bodies of the crystal of quantum bodies 110, such that the quantum bodies of the crystal of quantum bodies exhibit radial (e.g., substantially perpendicular to the RF null axis 105) oscillations and / or small reciprocating motions. The phase of the reciprocating motion may differ with respect to the ions on either side of the rf null. Figure 2 provides a schematic diagram of a rotated crystal of quantum bodies, which is a crystal of quantum bodies that defines a crystal axis 190 having a vector component transverse with respect to the RF null axis 105. In various embodiments, a detection beam 215 is provided that is detuned from a specific transition of a second kind of quantum body 110B. When a detection beam 215, which is either frequency-modulated or detuned, is incident on a rotated quantum body crystal, the vibrational motion of the second-kind quantum body 110B causes a detection beam that is either frequency-modulated at the rf drive frequency or detuned from a particular transition by the rf drive frequency of the second-kind quantum body. Thus, the second-kind quantum body emits fluorescence and / or stimulated emission 220 in response to the incidence of the detection beam 215 onto it. The detection beam 215 is off-resonant (e.g., far off-resonant) from the qubit space and / or transitions from the ground state of the first-kind quantum body. For example, Figure 2 shows a quantum body crystal 110 experiencing a push field 130 and being incident on by the detection beam 215, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The stimulated emission may be detected (e.g., by a detector 125) and it may be determined that both members of the quantum body crystal are present.

[0027] Figure 3 provides a schematic diagram of the rotated quantum object crystal 110 in which the first-kind quantum object 110A is absent. Due to the absence of the first-kind quantum object 110A, the second-kind quantum object 110B of the rotated quantum object crystal is positioned on the RF null axis 105 and does not exhibit oscillation and / or small reciprocating motion. Therefore, when the detection beam 215 is incident on the second-kind quantum object 110B, the detection beam 215 is either frequency-modulated at the RF drive frequency or detuned from a specific transition by the RF drive frequency of the second-kind quantum object 110B, and the second-kind quantum object does not fluoresce and / or emit stimulated emission 220 in response to the incidence of the detection beam 215 on the second-kind quantum object. Similarly, when the first-kind quantum object 110A is present and the second-kind quantum object 110B is absent, stimulated emission 220 is not emitted when the detection beam 215 is incident on the quantum object crystal 110. Therefore, when one or both members of the quantum object's crystal are absent (for example, missing), stimulated emission is not detected by detector 125.

[0028] Exemplary quantum object confinement device Figure 4 provides a top view of an exemplary confinement device 400 that may be used to confine a crystal 110 of a quantum object. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the confinement device is an ion trap (e.g., a surface ion trap), and the quantum object is an ion. In an exemplary embodiment, the confinement device 400 (e.g., a surface ion trap) is manufactured as part of an ion trap chip and / or as part of an ion trap device and / or package. In an exemplary embodiment, the confinement device 400 is at least partially defined by several RF electrodes 412 (e.g., 412A, 412B). In various embodiments, the confinement device 400 is at least partially defined by several sequences 414 (e.g., 414A, 414B, 414C) of control electrodes. Each sequence 414 of control electrodes includes a plurality of control electrodes 416. In an exemplary embodiment, each control electrode 416 and / or at least a non-empty subset of control electrodes 416 may be operated independently by the application of a control signal thereto. In an exemplary embodiment, the confinement device 400 is a surface Paul trap using a symmetric RF electrode 412. In various embodiments, the RF electrode 412 and the control electrode 416 generate a potential and / or field experienced by the crystal 110 of the quantum object within the confinement region 100 of the confinement device 400. In particular, the RF electrode 412 may be configured to define the confinement region 100 of the confinement device 400, and the control electrode 416 may be configured to at least partially control the movement and / or motion of the quantum object within the confinement region 100.

[0029] In various embodiments, the upper surface of the confinement device 400 has a planar topology. For example, the upper surface of each of the RF electrodes 412 and the upper surface of each control electrode 416 of a sequence of control electrodes may be substantially coplanar.

[0030] In various embodiments, the confinement device 400 includes and / or is at least partially defined by several RF electrodes 412. The RF electrodes 412 are formed to have substantially parallel longitudinal axes 411 (e.g., 411A, 411B) and substantially coplanar upper surfaces. For example, the RF electrodes 412 are substantially parallel such that the distance between the RF electrodes 412 is substantially constant along the length of the RF electrodes 412 (e.g., the length of the RF electrodes along the longitudinal axis 411 of the RF electrodes 412). For example, the upper surfaces of the RF electrodes 412 may be substantially flush with the upper surface of the confinement device 400. In exemplary embodiments, several RF electrodes 412 include two RF electrodes 412 (e.g., 412A, 412B). In various embodiments, the confinement device 400 may include a plurality of several RF electrodes 412. For example, the confinement device 400 may be a two-dimensional ion trap including several (e.g., pairs and / or sets) RF electrodes 412 such that each of several (pairs and / or sets) of RF electrodes 412 has substantially parallel longitudinal axes 411. In an exemplary embodiment, the first several RF electrodes 412 have substantially parallel longitudinal axes 411 to each other, and the second several RF electrodes 412 have substantially parallel longitudinal axes 411 to each other, and the longitudinal axes of the first several RF electrodes and the longitudinal axes of the second several RF electrodes are substantially non-parallel (e.g., transverse). Figure 4 shows a portion of an exemplary one-dimensional confinement device 400 and / or two-dimensional confinement device 400 having two RF electrodes 412, but other embodiments may include additional RF electrodes in various configurations.

[0031] In various embodiments, two adjacent RF electrodes 412 may be separated (e.g., insulated) from each other by a longitudinal gap. In various embodiments, the confinement region 100 lies at least partially on the longitudinal gap. For example, the longitudinal gap may define the confinement region 100 (in one or two dimensions). In various embodiments, the confinement region 100 may extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 411 of the adjacent RF electrodes 412. For example, the longitudinal gap may extend substantially parallel to the x-axis, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In exemplary embodiments, the longitudinal gap may be at least partially filled with an insulating material (e.g., a dielectric material). In various embodiments, the dielectric material may be silicon dioxide (e.g., formed by thermal oxidation) and / or other dielectric and / or insulating materials. In various embodiments, the longitudinal gap has a height (e.g., in the y-direction) of about 40 μm to 500 μm. In various embodiments, one or more sequences 414 of control electrodes (for example, a second sequence 414B of control electrodes) may be arranged and / or formed within a longitudinal gap.

[0032] In exemplary embodiments, a lateral gap may exist between adjacent and / or adjacent control electrodes 416 of one or more sequences 414 of control electrodes. In exemplary embodiments, the lateral gap may be an empty space and / or at least partially filled with dielectric material to prevent electrical communication between adjacent and / or adjacent electrodes. In exemplary embodiments, the lateral gap between adjacent and / or adjacent electrodes may be in the range of about 1 to 10 μm.

[0033] In exemplary embodiments, a longitudinal gap exists between the control electrode sequence 414 and the adjacent and / or neighboring RF electrode 412. In exemplary embodiments, the longitudinal gap may be at least partially filled with a dielectric and / or insulating material to prevent electrical communication between the control electrode 416 of the control electrode sequence 414 and the RF electrode 412. In exemplary embodiments, the longitudinal gap between adjacent and / or neighboring electrodes may be in the range of about 1 to 10 μm.

[0034] In various embodiments, the confinement device 400 may be defined at least partially by several sequences 414 of control electrodes (e.g., a first sequence 414A of control electrodes, a second sequence 414B of control electrodes, a third sequence 414C of control electrodes). Each sequence 414 of control electrodes is formed to extend substantially parallel to the substantially parallel longitudinal axis 411 of the RF electrode 412. For example, several sequences 414 of control electrodes may extend substantially parallel to the x-axis, as shown in Figure 4. In various embodiments, several sequences 414 of control electrodes include two, three, four, and / or other numbers of sequences 414 of control electrodes. In exemplary embodiments, the confinement device 400 includes several sequences 414 of control electrodes. For example, the shown confinement device 400 is a one-dimensional ion trap including three sequences 414 of control electrodes. For example, the confinement device 400 may be a two-dimensional ion trap comprising several sequences 414 of control electrodes, each extending substantially parallel to the substantially parallel longitudinal axes of several corresponding RF electrodes 412. In exemplary embodiments, a first sequence 414 of control electrodes extends substantially parallel to the substantially parallel longitudinal axes 411 of the first sequence 412, a second sequence 414 of control electrodes extends substantially parallel to the substantially parallel longitudinal axes 411 of the second sequence 412, and the longitudinal axes of the first and second RF electrodes are substantially non-parallel (e.g., lateral). In some embodiments, each of the control electrodes 416 of the sequence 414 of control electrodes may be formed to have a substantially coplanar upper surface that is substantially coplanar with the upper surface of the RF electrode 412.

[0035] In exemplary embodiments (for example, shown in Figure 4), several (e.g., pairs) RF electrodes 412 may be formed between a first sequence 414A and a third sequence 414C of the control electrode, and a second sequence 414B of the control electrode may extend along the longitudinal gap between the RF electrodes 412. For example, each sequence 414 of the control electrode may extend in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 411 of the RF electrode 412 (e.g., the x-direction). In various embodiments, the upper surface of the sequence 414 of the control electrode is substantially coplanar with the upper surface of the RF electrode 412.

[0036] In various embodiments, an RF signal may be applied to the RF electrode 412 to generate an electric and / or magnetic field that acts to maintain a quantum object (e.g., an ion) trapped within the confinement device 400 in a direction lateral to the longitudinal direction of the confinement device 400 (e.g., the y and z directions). In various embodiments, a control signal and / or voltage is applied to the control electrode 416 to generate a desired potential field within the confinement region 100. For example, in various embodiments, a time-dependent, time-varying, time-evolving, and / or nonstatic DC voltage may be applied to the control electrode 416 to generate a time-dependent, time-varying, time-evolving, and / or nonstatic potential field that causes a quantum object trapped within the confinement device 400 to pass through a corresponding trajectory into the confinement region 100. For example, the quantum object may be moved between different zones of the confinement device 400 so that various functions may be performed on that quantum object. For example, a quantum object may be initialized, gated by a 1-qubit gate, gated by a 2 / multiple-qubit gate, carried and / or stored, read and / or detected, and so on. In an exemplary embodiment, the control electrode 416 is configured to generate a push field and / or vibration potential that, in response to a control signal applied to the control electrode 416, causes a quantum object experiencing a push field and / or vibration potential to experience vibration and / or small reciprocating motion. In various embodiments, the push field 130 is configured to push the quantum object away from the RF null axis 105 of the confinement device 400 (located in the same position as the longitudinal axis 405 of the confinement region 100 in an exemplary embodiment). The quantum object, pushed away from the RF null axis 105, experiences a potential (at least partially generated, for example, by the application of an RF signal to the RF electrode 412) at the position of the quantum object along the RF null axis 105 / longitudinal axis 405 of the confinement device 400, which causes the quantum object to vibrate laterally (for example, perpendicular in the exemplary embodiment) with respect to the RF null axis 105 and / or cause the quantum object to experience a small reciprocating motion.For example, pushing a quantum object radially away from the RF null axis 105 (e.g., in the yz plane) causes the quantum object to experience a potential that vibrates the quantum object radially in the confinement region (e.g., in the y direction when the quantum object is pushed away from the RF null axis 105 in the y direction, as shown in Figure 2) and / or causes the quantum object to experience a small reciprocating motion. In various embodiments, the vibrational potential is configured to vibrate the quantum object experiencing the vibrational potential and / or cause the quantum object experiencing the vibrational potential to experience a small reciprocating motion in a direction substantially parallel to the RF null axis 105 / longitudinal axis 405 of the confinement device 400. For example, experiencing the vibrational potential causes the quantum object to vibrate in the longitudinal direction of the confinement region 100 (e.g., in the x direction, as shown in Figure 3) and / or causes the quantum object to experience a small reciprocating motion.

[0037] In various embodiments, the control signal and / or voltage applied to the control electrode 416 is controlled by one or more connected devices via lead wires (e.g., a controller 30 shown in Figure 6, etc.). For example, depending on the intensity (e.g., charge in the case of an electric monopole) of an electric monopole and / or dipole (or pole of greater magnitude) of a quantum object, the longitudinal voltage with respect to the control electrode 416 near a particular quantum object may be increased or decreased to cause the particular quantum object to traverse a desired trajectory. For example, the controller 30 may control a voltage driver to apply the control signal and / or longitudinal voltage to the control electrode in order to generate a time-dependent potential (e.g., a potential that evolves, changes, and / or changes over time) that causes a quantum object in the confinement device 400 to traverse a desired trajectory. In various embodiments, the controller 30 may control a voltage driver (or other signal generator) to generate a potential that causes the second-kind quantum object 110B to vibrate laterally with respect to the RF null axis 105 or to cause the second-kind quantum object 110B to experience a small reciprocating motion.

[0038] Depending on factors such as the intensity of the electric monopoles and / or dipoles (or larger poles) of the quantum object (e.g., the charge in the case of electric monopoles), and / or the shape and / or magnitude of the combined electric and / or magnetic fields, the quantum object may be stabilized at a specific distance (e.g., from about 20 μm to about 200 μm) above the upper surface of the confinement device 400 (e.g., the upper surface on the same surface as the sequence of control electrodes 414 and the RF electrode 412). To further contribute to controlling the passage of the quantum object along a desired trajectory, in various embodiments, the confinement device 400 may be operated in a cryogenic and / or vacuum chamber capable of cooling the confinement device 400 to a temperature of less than 124 Kelvin (e.g., less than 100 Kelvin, less than 50 Kelvin, less than 10 Kelvin, less than 5 Kelvin, etc.).

[0039] In various embodiments, the RF electrode 412, the sequence of control electrodes 414, and / or the confinement potential generated by the RF electrode and / or the sequence of control electrodes 414 define the confinement region 100 of the confinement device 400. In an exemplary embodiment, the confinement potential generated by the RF electrode 412 and / or the RF electrode defines the confinement region 100 of the confinement device 400, and the control electrode 416 controls the movement and / or positioning of the quantum object crystal 110 within the confinement region 100. In various embodiments, the confinement potential generated by the RF electrode 412, the sequence of control electrodes 414, and / or the sequence of RF electrode and / or the sequence of control electrodes 414 defines the axis 405 of the confinement device 400. For example, the confinement potential generated by the RF electrode 412 and / or the RF electrode may define the axis 405 of the confinement device 400. In various embodiments, the confinement potential generally acts to align the crystal 110 of the quantum object within the confinement device 400 along the RF null axis 105 and / or longitudinal axis 405 of the confinement device 400.

[0040] Exemplary quantum object detection function In various embodiments, the controller 30 may control one or more drivers to cause multiple potential generating elements of the confinement device (e.g., RF electrodes 412 and control electrodes 416) to generate a time-dependent potential field (e.g., a potential field that evolves over time) that confines the quantum object crystal 110 within the confinement region 100 of the confinement device 400. Exemplary quantum computers 610 and controllers 30 are described in more detail elsewhere in this specification in relation to Figures 6 and 7. The controller 30 may control one or more drivers (e.g., a voltage source 50), an operation source 60 (e.g., a laser), etc., to execute quantum circuits using the quantum object crystal 110 in the confinement device 400. A quantum circuit is a computational routine that involves coherent quantum operations on quantum data such as qubits (e.g., quantum objects of a first kind in the quantum object crystal 110). For example, a quantum circuit includes an ordered sequence of quantum gates. Execution and / or execution of a quantum circuit by a quantum computer causes the quantum computer to execute a corresponding algorithm. For example, to perform an algorithm and / or computation, a quantum computer may perform and / or execute a quantum circuit that first initializes one or more qubits (e.g., quantum objects of the first kind of the crystal 110 of the quantum object) to an initial quantum state, then performs an ordered set of quantum gates and / or other operations on one or more qubits, and finally reads and / or detects the quantum state of at least one of the qubits to determine the result and / or outcome of performing the algorithm and / or computation.

[0041] In exemplary embodiments, a quantum circuit may include reading and / or detecting the quantum state of at least one qubit in the middle of the quantum circuit. For example, after executing one or more gates, one or more quantum states of the qubits may be read and / or detected, and then one or more further gates may be executed. In exemplary embodiments, one or more further gates may be determined, modified, adjusted, selected, ordered, etc., at least in part on the result of reading and / or detecting the quantum state of at least one qubit in the middle of the quantum circuit. To enable reading and / or detecting the quantum state of at least one qubit during the execution of the quantum circuit (e.g., in the middle of the quantum circuit), a quantum object detection function is configured to be executed before all reading and / or detection of the quantum state of at least one qubit in order to accurately detect a quantum object in the ion trap without causing a qubit error or otherwise adversely affecting the quantum state of at least one qubit, provided that no loss occurs. In various embodiments, a quantum object detection function is periodically executed during the execution of a quantum circuit to determine whether the execution of the quantum circuit should continue (for example, if one or more quantum objects are lost, it may be desirable to stop the execution of the quantum circuit, reload the quantum objects, and restart the quantum circuit), whether one or more quantum objects should be reloaded into the confinement device, etc. In this way, the probability that the quantum information / data stored by the qubits of the quantum object crystals will be lost, disturbed, corrupted, or destroyed during the detection process is reduced. Figure 5 provides a flowchart showing, for example, processes, procedures, and operations performed by a controller 30 to control a quantum computer and / or to execute and / or perform a quantum circuit including an exemplary embodiment of the quantum object detection function.

[0042] Starting in step / operation 502, the controller 30 may control one or more voltage sources 50 to confine the quantum object crystal 110 in the quantum object confinement device 400. The quantum object confinement device 400 includes (a) one or more RF electrodes 412 that define the radio frequency (RF) null axis 105 of the quantum object confinement device 400, and (b) a plurality of control electrodes 416. The quantum object crystal 110 includes (i) at least one of (a) a first-kind quantum object 110A or (b) a second-kind quantum object 110B, and (ii) defines a crystal axis 190 that is aligned along the RF null axis 105 of the quantum object confinement device 400. For example, when the quantum object is positioned on the RF null axis 105, the quantum object does not experience any radial forces (e.g., forces substantially perpendicular to the RF null axis 105) as a result of a trapping pseudopotential generated as a result of an RF voltage being applied to at least one RF electrode.

[0043] The controller 30 may execute executable instructions via the controller 30's processing device 1005 to perform quantum object loss detection in the quantum object crystal 110. For example, in step / operation 504, the controller 30 may cause the voltage source 50 to supply a first control signal to one or more control electrodes 416 causing the quantum object crystal 110 to experience a push field 130, as shown in Figure 2. In various embodiments, the push field 130 causes the quantum object crystal 110 to experience a push field and / or vibrational potential such that the crystal axis 190 rotates relative to the RF null axis 105. When a quantum object in the confinement region 100 is not positioned on the RF null axis 105, the quantum object experiences an oscillating radial force as a result of the capture pseudopotential. This oscillating radial force causes the quantum object positioned off the RF null axis 105 to exhibit vibration and / or small reciprocating motion. Oscillation within the confinement potential causes both the first-kind quantum object 110A and the second-kind quantum object 110B to oscillate at the RF driving frequency, and / or causes the first-kind quantum object 110A and the second-kind quantum object 110B to experience a small reciprocating motion at the RF driving frequency.

[0044] When the quantum object crystal 110, containing a first-kind quantum object 110A and a second-kind quantum object 110B, is placed in a trap within the quantum object confinement device 400, the mutual Coulomb repulsion between the first-kind quantum object 110A and the second-kind quantum object 110B causes both of them to reposition from their original capture positions along the RF null axis 105, as shown in Figure 1. The first-kind quantum object 110A and the second-kind quantum object 110B remain in the weakest potential confined within the quantum object confinement device without experiencing any further tremors. However, when the crystal of the quantum body is rotated such that the crystal axis 190 has a vector component in the transverse direction (e.g., substantially perpendicular) with respect to the RF null axis 105, the quantum bodies of the quantum body push each other away from the RF null axis 105 due to the Coulomb repulsion force 180 between the quantum bodies of the crystal 110, causing the quantum bodies of the crystal to exhibit radial oscillations (e.g., substantially perpendicular to the RF null axis 105) and / or small reciprocating motions.

[0045] In step / operation 506, the controller 30 causes at least one operating source 60 to generate and provide a detection beam 215. In various embodiments, a detection beam 215 is provided which is either frequency modulated at an RF driving frequency or detuned from a particular transition by the RF driving frequency of the second-kind quantum object. When the detection beam 215 is incident on the crystal of the rotated quantum object, the vibrational motion of the second-kind quantum object 110B either frequency modulates the detection beam at an RF driving frequency or detunes it from a particular transition by the RF driving frequency of the second-kind quantum object. Thus, the second-kind quantum object emits fluorescence and / or stimulated emission 220 in response to the incidence of the detection beam 215 on it. The detection beam 215 is off-resonant (e.g., far-resonant) from the qubit space and / or transitions from the ground state of the first-kind quantum object. For example, Figure 2 shows a quantum object crystal 110 experiencing a pressure field 130 and being incident on by a detection beam 215, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Stimulated emission may be detected (for example by a detector 125), and it may be determined that both members of the quantum object crystal are present.

[0046] In step / operation 508, the controller 30 may receive a signal indicating the response of the quantum object crystal to the incidence of a modulated detection beam onto at least a portion of the quantum object crystal. For example, a signal from the detector 125 may indicate the response of the quantum object crystal to the incidence of the detection beam 215 onto at least a portion of the quantum object crystal 110. The controller 30 may then adjust, modify, or update the rest of the quantum circuit based on whether a second kind of quantum object has been detected by the detection beam 215. For example, the controller 30 may make changes to the rest of the quantum circuit in the process of performing and / or executing the quantum circuit based on and / or in response to a signal indicating the response of the quantum object crystal to the incidence of the detection beam 215 onto at least a portion of the quantum object crystal.

[0047] In step / operation 510, the controller 30 may determine whether (a) a first-kind quantum object 110A and (b) a second-kind quantum object 110B are both present in the quantum object crystal, and (c) the two kinds are in the expected order. In an exemplary embodiment, both the first-kind quantum object 110A and the second-kind quantum object 110B may be present, and fluorescence may be detected by the detector 125. When stimulated emission 220 in response to the incidence of the detection beam 215 onto it is detected by the detector 125, the signal from the detector 125 may indicate that the quantum object crystal 110 is responding to the incidence of the detection beam 215 onto at least a portion of the quantum object crystal 110, and that no loss of quantum object occurs in the quantum object crystal 110. If it is determined that no loss of quantum object occurs in the quantum object crystal, a quantum circuit using the first-kind quantum object may be executed.

[0048] In exemplary embodiments, there may be cases where a first-kind quantum object 110A is present, a second-kind quantum object 110B is absent, and fluorescence is not detected by the detector 125. In exemplary embodiments, there may be cases where both the first-kind quantum object 110A and the second-kind quantum object 110B are absent, and fluorescence is not detected by the detector 125. In exemplary embodiments, there may be cases where the first-kind quantum object 110A is absent, a second-kind quantum object 110B is present, and fluorescence is not detected by the detector 125. For example, as shown in Figure 3, a second-kind quantum object 110B is present, and the second-kind quantum object 110B is not pushed off the RF null axis 105 because there is no Coulomb repulsion from the first-kind quantum object 110A. That is, the second-kind quantum object 110B remains on the RF null axis even when a pushing field and / or vibration potential 130 is generated and experienced by the second-kind quantum object 110B. Since the detection beam 215 is modulated at a wavelength that is tuned to the micro-sideband of the second-kind quantum object 110B, fluorescence is suppressed by detuning the micro-sideband from the carrier transition of the second-kind quantum object 110B.

[0049] When fluorescence is not detected by detector 125, the signal from detector 125 indicates that the quantum object crystal 110 is not responding to the incidence of the modulated detection beam 215 onto at least a portion of the quantum object crystal 110. In other words, a loss of quantum object or an unexpected rearrangement has occurred in the quantum object crystal 110. If it is determined that a loss of quantum object or an unexpected rearrangement has occurred in the quantum object crystal, the method may proceed to step 512, in which the controller 30 causes at least one operating source 60 to invert the modulation phase of the detection beam 215 incident on at least a portion of the quantum object crystal by π.

[0050] In step / operation 514, the controller 30 may receive a signal indicating the response of the quantum object crystal to the incidence of a modulated detection beam onto at least a portion of the quantum object crystal. Similar to step 508, the signal from the detector 125 may indicate the response of the quantum object crystal to the incidence of a modulated detection beam 215 having a π-inverted modulation phase onto at least a portion of the quantum object crystal 110.

[0051] In step / operation 516, the controller 30 may determine whether the quantum object 110A of the first species and the quantum object 110B of the second species are present in the quantum object crystal, but whether the two species are in an unexpected order.

[0052] In step / operation 518, if the first-kind quantum object 110A and the second-kind quantum object 110B are in an unexpected order, the controller 30 may cause the voltage source 50 to provide a first control signal to one or more control electrodes 416 to rotate the quantum object crystal 110 by another 180°. For example, if the first-kind quantum object 110A and the second-kind quantum object 110B are in an unexpected order, step / operation 518 may correct the order of the first-kind quantum object 110A and the second-kind quantum object 110B.

[0053] In step / operation 522, if no unexpected ordering occurs, the controller 30 may adjust the push field and / or vibration potential to expel all quantum objects of the quantum object crystal 110 present at that position from the confinement region 110. The controller 30 may then restart the process of step / operation 502 to control one or more voltage sources 50 to confine a new quantum object crystal in the quantum object confinement device 400. For example, a new ion that is already loaded may be moved to an empty position, or a new ion may be loaded into an empty position and used to continue the circuit.

[0054] In step / operation 520, if the controller 30 determines that no loss of quantum body occurs in the quantum body crystal 110, the controller 30 may cause the quantum computer 610 to start executing a quantum circuit. For example, the controller 30 may receive (for example, from the computing entity 10 via one or more wired and / or wireless networks) quantum circuit and / or other executable instructions that cause the controller 30 to control one or more drivers so that the voltage source 50, the operation source 60, and / or other components of the quantum computer 910 start executing the quantum circuit. The controller 30 may then cause one or more gates to be executed on the first-kind quantum body 110A (for example, using one or more operation sources 60) so that the quantum state of the first-kind quantum body 110A evolves in a particular way within a defined qubit space of the quantum body crystal 110.

[0055] In exemplary embodiments, a quantum circuit using a quantum object of a first kind may be executed. In exemplary embodiments, during the execution of the quantum circuit, a read function to be performed on the quantum object of the first kind may be identified, and in response to the identification of the read function to be performed, at least one first control signal is provided to at least one control electrode, and an operating source is caused to generate and provide a read beam. In exemplary embodiments, the execution of the quantum circuit further includes receiving a read result in response to at least a partial incidence of the read beam onto the quantum object of the first kind, and tuning the quantum circuit at least partially based on the read result so that the tuned quantum circuit is executed.

[0056] In step / operation 520, the controller 30 may further control various components of the quantum computer 610 to continue the execution and / or performance of the quantum circuit. For example, the quantum computer 610 may continue the execution and / or performance of the quantum circuit, including executing one or more gates, moving a quantum object within the confinement device 400, and performing additional read and / or detection functions (such as a quantum object loss detection function). The controller 30 may then communicate one or more results of the execution and / or performance of the quantum circuit to the computing entity 10 via one or more wired and / or wireless networks 20.

[0057] Technical advantages Various embodiments provide technical solutions to the technical problem of detecting quantum objects in a confinement device without disrupting the quantum information / data stored and / or encoded by the quantum state of the quantum object within the confinement device, provided that no loss of quantum object occurs. For example, an ion-trap quantum computer utilizes a crystal of various kinds of quantum objects, one species being data qubits used for computation and another species being used for co-cooling. If detection is performed directly on the quantum object, qubit errors may occur, potentially detrimental to the quantum information encoded by the quantum state of the quantum object. Various embodiments enable the detection of quantum objects by detecting the quantum object used for co-cooling, and the quantum information / data stored by the quantum object may be preserved during the detection process. Various embodiments enable the detection of quantum objects to be performed in the middle of the execution and / or execution of a quantum circuit (e.g., by a quantum computer) without disrupting the quantum information / data stored by the quantum object of the species during the execution of the detection function.

[0058] Thus, various embodiments provide technological improvements in the field of quantum computer operation (for example, for QCCD-based quantum computers, etc.) and in the field of detecting the presence of quantum objects in quantum object confinement devices in applications that enable the maintenance of quantum information / data stored by quantum objects.

[0059] Exemplary quantum computers including ion trap devices As described above, in various embodiments, the quantum object loss detection function is performed by the controller 30 of the quantum computer 610. Figure 6 provides a schematic diagram of an exemplary quantum computer system 600, including a confinement device 400 (e.g., an ion trap), according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0060] In various embodiments, the quantum computer system 600 includes a computing entity 10 and a quantum computer 610. In various embodiments, the quantum computer 610 includes a controller 30, a cryostat and / or vacuum chamber 40 surrounding a confinement device 400, one or more operating sources 60, one or more voltage sources 50, one or more magnetic field generators 70 (e.g., 70A, 70B), an optical collection system 80, and the like. In various embodiments, the controller 30 is configured to control the operation of the operating sources 60, voltage sources 50, magnetic field generators 70, the vacuum system and / or cryogenic cooling system (not shown), etc. (e.g., to control one or more drivers configured to cause the operation). In various embodiments, the controller 30 is configured to receive signals (e.g., electrical signals) generated and provided by the optical collection system 80.

[0061] In exemplary embodiments, one or more manipulators 60 may include one or more sources (e.g., optical lasers, microwave sources, etc.). In various embodiments, one or more manipulators 60 are configured to manipulate and / or induce the development of controlled quantum states of one or more quantum objects 110A / 110B within the confinement device 400. In exemplary embodiments, at least one of the one or more manipulators 60 is configured to generate and provide a readout beam 115. For example, in exemplary embodiments in which one or more manipulators 60 include one or more lasers, the lasers may provide one or more laser beams to the confinement device within the cryogenic and / or vacuum chamber 40 via beam paths 66 (e.g., 66A, 66B, 66C).

[0062] In various embodiments, the quantum computer 610 includes one or more voltage sources 50. For example, the voltage sources may be arbitrary wave generators (AWGs) and / or other voltage signal generators. For example, the voltage sources 50 may include a plurality of longitudinal voltage drivers and / or longitudinal voltage sources, and / or at least one RF driver and / or RF voltage source. In exemplary embodiments, the voltage sources 50 may be electrically coupled to corresponding potential generating elements of the confinement device 400 (e.g., control electrodes 416 and / or RF electrodes 412).

[0063] In various embodiments, the quantum computer 610 includes one or more magnetic field generators 70 (e.g., 70A, 70B). For example, the magnetic field generators may be an internal magnetic field generator 70A located inside the cryogenic and / or vacuum chamber 40, and / or an external magnetic field generator 70B located outside the cryogenic and / or vacuum chamber 40. In various embodiments, the magnetic field generators 70 include permanent magnets, Helmholtz coils, electromagnets, and the like. In various embodiments, the magnetic field generators 70 are configured to generate a magnetic field having a specific magnitude and a specific magnetic field direction in one or more regions of the quantum object confinement device 400.

[0064] In various embodiments, the quantum computer 610 includes an optical collection system 80 configured to collect and / or detect photons (e.g., stimulated emission 120) generated by qubits (e.g., during a read procedure). The optical collection system 80 may include one or more optical elements (e.g., lenses, mirrors, waveguides, optical fiber cables, etc.) and one or more photodetectors. In various embodiments, the photodetectors may be photodiodes, photomultiplier tubes, charge-coupled device (CCD) sensors, complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensors, micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) sensors, and / or other photodetectors that are highly sensitive to light of the expected fluorescence wavelength of the qubits (e.g., quantum objects) of the quantum computer 610. In various embodiments, the detectors may communicate electronically with the quantum system controller 30 via one or more A / D converters 1025 (see Figure 7), etc.

[0065] In various embodiments, the computing entity 10 is configured to allow a user to provide input to the quantum computer 610 (for example, through the user interface of the computing entity 10) and to receive, view, etc., outputs from the quantum computer 610. The computing entity 10 may communicate with the controller 30 of the quantum computer 610 via one or more wired or wireless networks 20, and / or via direct wired and / or wireless communication. In exemplary embodiments, the computing entity 10 may translate, configure, format, etc., information / data, quantum computing algorithms (e.g., quantum circuits), etc., into a computing language, executable instructions, command set, etc., that the controller 30 can understand, execute, and / or implement.

[0066] In various embodiments, the controller 30 is configured to control a voltage source 50, a magnetic field generator 70, a cryogenic system and / or vacuum system for controlling the temperature and pressure in the cryogenic and / or vacuum chamber 40, an operating source 60, and / or other systems for controlling various environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, pressure, etc.) in the cryogenic and / or vacuum chamber 40, all configured to manipulate and / or induce controlled evolution of the quantum states of one or more quantum objects within the confinement device, and / or to read and / or detect the quantum (e.g., qubit) states of one or more quantum objects within the confinement device. For example, the controller 30 may induce controlled evolution of the quantum states of one or more quantum objects within the confinement device in order to execute a quantum circuit and / or algorithm. For example, the controller 30 may read and / or detect the quantum states of one or more quantum objects within the confinement device at one or more points in time during the execution of a quantum circuit. In various embodiments, the quantum objects confined within the confinement device are used as qubits in a quantum computer 610.

[0067] Example Controller In various embodiments, the confinement device 400 is incorporated into a quantum computer 610. In various embodiments, the quantum computer 610 further includes a controller 30 configured to control various elements of the quantum computer 610. For example, the controller 30 may be configured to control a voltage source 50 configured to manipulate and / or induce a controlled evolution of the quantum states of one or more quantum objects in the confinement device, and / or to read and / or detect the quantum states of one or more quantum objects in the confinement device, a cryogenic system and / or vacuum system to control the temperature and pressure in the cryogenic and / or vacuum chamber 40, a manipulator 60, a magnetic field generator 70, and / or other systems to control environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity, pressure, etc.) in the cryogenic and / or vacuum chamber 40.

[0068] As shown in Figure 7, in various embodiments, the controller 30 may include various controller elements, including a processing device 1005, memory 1010, driver controller element 1015, communication interface 1020, analog-to-digital converter element 1025, and so on. For example, the processing device 1005 may include a programmable logic device (CPLD), microprocessor, coprocessing entity, application-specific instruction-set processor (ASIP), integrated circuit, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), programmable logic array (PLA), hardware accelerator, other processing devices and / or circuits, and / or a controller. The term "circuit" may refer to an entirely hardware embodiment or a combination of hardware and computer program products. In an exemplary embodiment, the processing device 1005 of the controller 30 includes and / or communicates with a clock.

[0069] For example, memory 1010 may include non-temporary memory such as volatile and / or non-volatile memory storage, such as one or more of the following: hard disk, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, MMC, SD memory card, memory stick, CBRAM, PRAM, FeRAM, RRAM, SONOS, racetrack memory, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, FPM DRAM, EDO DRAM, SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, DDR2 SDRAM, DDR3 SDRAM, RDRAM, RIMM, DIMM, SIMM, VRAM, cache memory, register memory, etc. In various embodiments, memory 1010 may store qubit records corresponding to qubits of a quantum computer (e.g., in a qubit record data store, qubit record database, qubit record table, etc.), calibration tables, executable queues, computer program code (e.g., one or more computer languages, special controller languages, etc.). In an exemplary embodiment, the execution of at least a portion of computer program code stored in memory 1010 (for example, by processing device 1005) causes controller 30 to perform one or more steps, operations, processes, procedures, etc., as described herein, to control one or more components of quantum computer 610 (e.g., voltage source 50, operation source 60, magnetic field generator 70, etc.) to detect and / or read the quantum state of one or more quantum objects, causing a controlled evolution of the quantum state of one or more quantum objects.

[0070] In various embodiments, the driver controller element 1015 may include one or more drivers and / or controller elements, each configured to control one or more drivers. In various embodiments, the driver controller element 1015 may include drivers and / or driver controllers. For example, a driver controller may be configured to operate one or more corresponding drivers according to executable instructions, commands, etc., scheduled and executed by the controller 30 (e.g., by the processing device 1005). In various embodiments, the driver controller element 1015 may enable the controller 30 to operate the operating source 60. In various embodiments, the drivers may be laser drivers, vacuum component drivers, drivers for controlling currents and / or voltages applied to longitudinal, RF, and / or other electrodes used to maintain and / or control the confinement potential of the confinement device (as well as other drivers for providing driver action sequences and / or control signals to the potential generating elements of the confinement device), cryogenic and / or vacuum system component drivers, etc. For example, the driver may control and / or include a longitudinal and / or RF voltage driver and / or voltage source that provides voltage and / or electrical signals to the control electrode 416 and / or the RF electrode 412. In various embodiments, the controller 30 includes means for transmitting and / or receiving signals from one or more detectors 125, such as photodetector components (e.g., cameras, MEMS cameras, CCD cameras, photodiodes, photomultiplier tubes, etc.). For example, the controller 30 may include one or more analog-to-digital converter elements 1025 configured to receive signals from one or more detectors 125, photodetector components, calibration sensors, etc.

[0071] In various embodiments, the controller 30 may include a communication interface 1020 for interfaceing with and / or communicating with the computing entity 10. For example, the controller 30 may include a communication interface 1020 for receiving executable instructions, command sets, etc., from the computing entity 10 and providing the computing entity 10 with outputs received from the quantum computer 610 (for example, from an optical collection system including one or more detectors 125) and / or the results of processing those outputs. In various embodiments, the computing entity 10 and the controller 30 may communicate directly via wired and / or wireless connections and / or via one or more wired and / or wireless networks 20.

[0072] Exemplary Computing Entity Figure 8 provides a descriptive schematic diagram representing an exemplary computing entity 10 that may be used in conjunction with embodiments of the present invention. In various embodiments, the computing entity 10 is configured to allow a user to provide input to a quantum computer 610 (for example, through the user interface of the computing entity 10) and to receive, display, analyze, and so on, output from the quantum computer 610.

[0073] As shown in Figure 8, the computing entity 10 may include an antenna 1112, a (e.g., wireless) transmitter 1104, a (e.g., wireless) receiver 1106, and a processing element 1108 that provides signals to the transmitter 1104 and receiver 1106 and receives signals from the transmitter 1104 and receiver 1106, respectively. The signals provided to and received by the transmitter 1104 and receiver 1106 may include signaling information / data according to applicable wireless system radio interface standards for communicating with various entities such as a controller 30 and other computing entities 10. In this regard, the computing entity 10 may operate using one or more radio interface standards, communication protocols, modulation types, and access types. For example, computing entity 10 may be configured to receive and / or provide communications using wired data transmission protocols such as Fiber Optic Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), Ethernet, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), Frame Relay, Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS), or any other wired transmission protocol.Similarly, Computing Entity 10 supports General-Purpose Packet Radio Services (GPRS), Universal Mobile Communications System (UMTS), Code Division Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000), CDMA2000 1X (1xRTT), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA®), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), Evolutionary Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO), High-Speed ​​Packet Access (HSPA), High-Speed ​​Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), and Wi-Fi. It may be configured to communicate over a wireless external communication network using any of the following protocols: Direct, 802.16 (WiMAX), Ultra Wideband (UWB), Infrared (IR) protocol, Near Field Communication (NFC) protocol, Wibree, Bluetooth protocol, Wireless Universal Serial Bus (USB) protocol, and / or any other Wi-S protocol.Computing entity 10 may communicate using such protocols and standards, including Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), Domain Name System (DNS), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), HTTP, HTTP over TLS / SSL / Secure, Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP), Network Time Protocol (NTP), Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), Telnet, Transport Layer Security (TLS), Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), Internet Protocol (IP), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Datagram Congestion Control Protocol (DCCP), Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP), and Hypertext Markup Language (HTML).

[0074] These communication standards and protocols allow computing entity 10 to communicate with various other entities using concepts such as Unstructured Supplementary Service information / data (USSD), Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency Signaling (DTMF), and / or Subscriber Identification Module Dialer (SIM dialer). Computing entity 10 can also download changes, add-ons, and updates to its firmware, software (including executable instructions, applications, and program modules), and operating system, for example.

[0075] The computing entity 10 may also include user interface devices, including one or more user input / output interfaces (for example, a display 1116 and / or speaker / speaker driver coupled to the processing element 1108, as well as a touchscreen, keyboard, mouse, and / or microphone coupled to the processing element 1108). For example, a user output interface may be configured to provide applications, browsers, user interfaces, interfaces, dashboards, screens, web pages, pages, and / or similar words used herein to be interchangeable, to trigger the display or audible presentation of information / data, and for interaction with that information / data via one or more user input interfaces. A user input interface may include any of many devices that enable the computing entity 10 to receive data, such as a keypad 1118 (hard or soft), a touch display, a voice / speech or motion interface, a scanner, a reader, or other input device. In embodiments including a keypad 1118, the keypad 1118 may include (or trigger the display of) conventional numeric keys (0-9) and associated keys (#, *), as well as other keys used to operate the computing entity 10, and may include a set of keys that can be operated to provide a complete set of alphabet keys or a complete set of alphanumeric keys. In addition to providing input, the user input interface may be used to activate or deactivate certain functions, such as a screen saver and / or sleep mode. Through such input, the computing entity 10 can collect information / data, user interactions / input, etc.

[0076] The computing entity 10 may also include volatile storage or memory 1122 and / or non-volatile storage or memory 1124, which may be embedded and / or removable. For example, non-volatile memory may be ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, MMC, SD memory card, memory stick, CBRAM, PRAM, FeRAM, RRAM, SONOS, racetrack memory, etc. Volatile memory may be RAM, DRAM, SRAM, FPM DRAM, EDO DRAM, SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, DDR2 SDRAM, DDR3 SDRAM, RDRAM, RIMM, DIMM, SIMM, VRAM, cache memory, register memory, etc. The volatile and non-volatile storage or memory may store databases, database instances, database management system entities, data, applications, programs, program modules, scripts, source code, object code, bytecode, compiled code, interpreted code, machine code, executable instructions, etc., for implementing the functions of the computing entity 10.

[0077] conclusion Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention described herein will come to mind to those skilled in the relevant art, utilizing the teachings shown in the above description and the accompanying drawings. Therefore, it should be understood that the invention should not be limited to any particular embodiment disclosed, and modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. While specific terminology is used herein, these terms are used only in a general and descriptive sense and not for limiting purposes. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0078] 10 Computing Entities 20. Wired and / or wireless networks 30 controllers 40 Cryostat and / or vacuum chamber 50 Voltage source 60 Operation source Beam paths 66, 66A, 66B, 66C 70 Magnetic field generator 70A magnetic field generator, internal magnetic field generator 70B Magnetic field generator, external magnetic field generator 80 Optical Acquisition System 100 Confinement Areas 105 RF Null Axis 110 Quantum Crystals 110A Quantum object of the first type 110B Quantum objects of the second type 115 Reading beam 120 Stimulated emission 125 detectors 130 Pushing area, vibration potential 180 Coulomb repulsion 190 Crystal axis 215 detection beam 220 Stimulated emission 400 Confinement device 405 Longitudinal axis 412, 412A, 412B RF electrode Sequence of control electrodes 414, 414A, 414B, 414C 416 Control electrodes 411, 411A, 411B Longitudinal axis 600 Quantum Computer Systems 610 Quantum Computer 910 Quantum Computer 1005 Processing device 1010 memory 1015 Driver Controller Element 1020 Communication Interface 1025 Analog-to-Digital Converter Element 1104 Transmitter 1106 Receiver 1108 Processing elements 1112 Antenna 1116 Display 1118 Keypad 1122 Volatile storage or memory 1124 Non-volatile storage or memory

Claims

1. A method executed by a quantum computer controller, A step of controlling one or more voltage sources to confine a crystal of a quantum object in a quantum object confinement device, wherein the quantum object confinement device includes (a) one or more RF electrodes that define the radio frequency (RF) null axis of the quantum object confinement device, and (b) a plurality of control electrodes, and the crystal of the quantum object includes (i) at least one of (a) a quantum object of a first kind or (b) a quantum object of a second kind, and (ii) defines a crystal axis that is aligned along the RF null axis of the quantum object confinement device, A step of causing at least one first control signal to be provided to at least one of the plurality of control electrodes, wherein the at least one first control signal causes the at least one control electrode to generate a compression field configured to rotate the crystal axis of the quantum object with respect to the RF null axis such that the crystal axis has a vector component transverse to the RF null axis; The steps include causing the operating source to generate and provide a modulated detection beam that is incident on at least a portion of the crystal of the quantum object, The steps include receiving a signal indicating the response of the quantum object's crystal to the incidence of the modulated detection beam onto at least a portion of the quantum object's crystal, Based on the signal, the steps include determining whether (a) both the quantum object of the first species and (b) the quantum object of the second species are present in the crystal of the quantum object, and (c) whether the quantum object of the first species and the quantum object of the second species are in the expected order. Methods that include...

2. In response to (a) the absence of the quantum object of the first species or (b) the quantum object of the second species, or (c) the quantum object of the first species and the quantum object of the second species not being in the expected order, the method may The steps include: inverting the modulation phase of the detection beam incident on at least a portion of the crystal of the quantum object by π; The steps include receiving a signal indicating the response of the crystal of the quantum object to the incidence of the detection beam having an inverted modulation phase on at least a portion of the crystal of the quantum object, A step of determining, based on the signal, whether the quantum objects of the first species and the quantum objects of the second species are in an unexpected order. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

3. In response to the existence of both (a) the quantum object of the first species and (b) the quantum object of the second species, and (c) the quantum object of the first species and the quantum object of the second species being in the expected order, The steps include: starting the execution of a quantum circuit using the first type of quantum object within the quantum object confinement device; A step of identifying a read function to be performed on a first type of quantum object during the execution of the quantum circuit, wherein, in response to the identification of the read function to be performed, the at least one first control signal is provided to the at least one control electrode, and the operating source is caused to generate and provide a read beam. The step of continuing the execution of the quantum circuit and The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

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