arXiv subjects

David Hucul

Publications and source records attributed to David Hucul.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Scalable Photon-Mediated Two-Qubit Gates with Spectrally Noisy Quantum Emitters

When two quantum bits are coupled through a cavity, a two-qubit gate can be realized between them either in the near-resonant regime over a timescale established by the coupling strength of the qubits with the cavity, or in the dispersive regime, over a longer timescale established by the combination of the coupling strength and the frequency detuning between the qubits and the cavity. When the qubits are spectrally noisy or differently detuned from the cavity, the fidelity for the operation can be drastically reduced in either case, precluding scalable realizations. We introduce the protocol for optimal cavity-enabled gates (POCEG) that is shown, through reliable numerical and analytical solutions, to overcome spectral differences between quantum bits and to achieve high fidelity between disparate/noisy quantum emitters. Namely, for a cavity with low damping rate, we apply a sequence of pulses to the qubits at the frequency of the cavity while periodically modulating the coupling of the qubits to the cavity. Alternatively, in the case of a large damping rate, we operate in the dispersive regime and overcome spectral disparities by applying the pulses at a frequency far-detuned from the cavity. In both instances, we find for the quantum state transfer between the two qubits that, with a modest inter-pulse delay, the fidelity that would otherwise be strongly suppressed by the spectral mismatch of the qubits can be increased beyond 99.9%. These protocols have the capacity to bring two-qubit gates between solid state systems across the threshold required for fault-tolerant quantum computing.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Photonic qubit encoding interconversion for heterogeneous quantum networking

Quantum information processing, communication, and sensing networks are being developed with various qubit platforms that use different encoding schemes. Connecting quantum network nodes to distribute entanglement requires matching photon qubit basis encoding. In this work, we implement an interconversion protocol which converts photon qubit encoding from the polarization basis to the time-bin basis, transmits the photons through a transport fiber with large fluctuations in polarization, and converts back to polarization encoding for ease of measurement. This interconversion scheme faithfully transmits a polarization Bell state across the transport fiber by converting sources of infidelity to changes in transmission rate. These results illustrate a practical approach for interfacing distinct qubit platforms to enable modular and flexible operation in heterogeneous quantum networks.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Cavity Mediated Two-Qubit Gate: Tuning to Optimal Performance with NISQ Era Quantum Simulations

A variety of photon-mediated operations are critical to the realization of scalable quantum information processing platforms and their accurate characterization is essential for the identification of optimal regimes and their experimental realizations. Such light-matter interactions are often studied with a broad variety of analytical and computational methods that are constrained by approximation techniques or by computational scaling. Quantum processors present a new avenue to address these challenges. We consider the case of cavity mediated two-qubit gates. To investigate quantum state transfer between the qubits, we implement simulations with quantum circuits that are able to reliably track the dynamics of the system. Our quantum algorithm, compatible with NISQ (Noisy Intermediate Scale Quantum) era systems, allows us to map out the fidelity of the state transfer operation between qubits as a function of a broad range of system parameters including the respective detunings between the qubits and the cavity, the damping factor of the cavity, and the respective couplings between the qubits and the cavity. The algorithm provides a robust and intuitive solution, alongside a satisfactory agreement with analytical solutions or classical simulation algorithms in their respective regimes of validity. It allows us to identify under-explored regimes of optimal performance, relevant for heterogeneous quantum platforms, where the two-qubit gate can be rather effective between far-detuned qubits that are neither resonant with each other nor with the cavity. Besides its present application, the method introduced in the current paper can be efficiently used in otherwise untractable variations of the model and in various efforts to simulate and optimize photon-mediated two-qubit gates and other relevant operations in quantum information processing.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Telecommunications fiber-optic and free-space quantum local area networks at the Air Force Research Laboratory

As quantum computing, sensing, timing, and networking technologies mature, quantum network testbeds are being deployed across the United States and around the world. To support the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)'s mission of building heterogeneous quantum networks, we report on the development of Quantum Local Area Networks (QLANs) operating at telecommunications-band frequencies. The multi-node, reconfigurable QLANs include deployed optical fiber and free-space links connected to pristine laboratory environments and rugged outdoor test facilities. Each QLAN is tailored to distinct operating conditions and use cases, with unique environmental characteristics and capabilities. We present network topologies and in-depth link characterization data for three such networks. Using photonic integrated circuit-based sources of entangled photons, we demonstrate entanglement distribution of time-energy Bell states across deployed fiber in a wooded environment. The high quality of the entanglement is confirmed by a Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt inequality violation of $S=2.717$, approaching the theoretical maximum of $S=2.828$. We conclude with a discussion of future work aimed at expanding QLAN functionality and enabling entanglement distribution between heterogeneous matter-based quantum systems, including superconducting qubits and trapped ions. These results underscore the practical viability of field-deployable, qubit-agnostic quantum network infrastructure.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Noise-Aware Entanglement Generation Protocols for Superconducting Qubits with Impedance-Matched FBAR Transducers

Connecting superconducting quantum processors to telecommunications-wavelength quantum networks is critically necessary to enable distributed quantum computing, secure communications, and other applications. Optically-mediated entanglement heralding protocols offer a near-term solution that can succeed with imperfect components, including sub-unity efficiency microwave-optical quantum transducers. The viability and performance of these protocols relies heavily on the properties of the transducers used: the conversion efficiency, resonator lifetimes, and added noise in the transducer directly influence the achievable entanglement generation rate and fidelity of an entanglement generation protocol. Here, we use an extended Butterworth-van Dyke (BVD) model to optimize the conversion efficiency and added noise of a Thin Film Bulk Acoustic Resonator (FBAR) piezo-optomechanical transducer. We use the outputs from this model to calculate the fidelity of one-photon and two-photon entanglement heralding protocols in a variety of operating regimes. For transducers with matching circuits designed to either minimize the added noise or maximize conversion efficiency, we theoretically estimate that entanglement generation rates of greater than $160\;\mathrm{kHz}$ can be achieved at moderate pump powers with fidelities of $>90\%$. This is the first time a BVD equivalent circuit model is used to both optimize the performance of an FBAR transducer and to directly inform the design and implementation of an entanglement generation protocol. These results can be applied in the near term to realize quantum networks of superconducting qubits with realistic experimental parameters.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Low-Crosstalk, Silicon-Fabricated Optical Waveguides for Laser Delivery to Matter Qubits

Reliable control of quantum information in matter-based qubits requires precisely applied external fields, and unaccounted for spatial cross-talk of these fields between adjacent qubits leads to loss of fidelity. We report a CMOS foundry-produced, micro-fabricated silicon nitride (Si3N4) optical waveguide for addressing a chain of eight, unequally-spaced trapped barium ions with crosstalk compatible with scalable quantum information processing. The crosstalk mitigation techniques incorporated into the chip design result in a reduction of the measured optical field by at least 50.8(1.3) dB between adjacent waveguide outputs near 650 nm and similar behavior for devices designed for 493 nm and 585 nm. The waveguide outputs near 650 nm, along with a global laser near 493 nm were used to laser-cool a chain of eight barium-138 ions, and a camera imaged the resulting fluorescence at 493 nm.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2019

High fidelity manipulation of a qubit built from a synthetic nucleus

The recently demonstrated trapping and laser cooling of $^{133}$Ba$^+$ has opened the door to the use of this nearly ideal atom for quantum information processing. However, before high fidelity qubit operations can be performed, a number of unknown state energies are needed. Here, we report measurements of the $^2$P$_{3/2}$ and $^2$D$_{5/2}$ hyperfine splittings, as well as the $^2$P$_{3/2}$$\leftrightarrow$ $^2$S$_{1/2}$and $^2$P$_{3/2}$ $\leftrightarrow$ $^2$D$_{5/2}$ transition frequencies. Using these transitions, we demonstrate high fidelity $^{133}$Ba$^+$ hyperfine qubit manipulation with electron shelving detection to benchmark qubit state preparation and measurement (SPAM). Using single-shot, threshold discrimination, we measure an average SPAM fidelity of $\mathcal{F} = 0.99971(6)$, a factor of $\approx$ 2 improvement over the best reported performance of any qubit.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2017

Spectroscopy of a synthetic trapped ion qubit

$^{133}\text{Ba}^+$ has been identified as an attractive ion for quantum information processing due to the unique combination of its spin-1/2 nucleus and visible wavelength electronic transitions. Using a microgram source of radioactive material, we trap and laser-cool the synthetic $A$ = 133 radioisotope of barium II in a radio-frequency ion trap. Using the same, single trapped atom, we measure the isotope shifts and hyperfine structure of the $6^2 \text{P}_{1/2}$ $\leftrightarrow$ $6^2 \text{S}_{1/2}$ and $6^2 \text{P}_{1/2}$ $\leftrightarrow$ $5^2 \text{D}_{3/2}$ electronic transitions that are needed for laser cooling, state preparation, and state detection of the clock-state hyperfine and optical qubits. We also report the $6^2 \text{P}_{1/2}$ $\leftrightarrow$ $5^2 \text{D}_{3/2}$ electronic transition isotope shift for the rare $A$ = 130 and 132 barium nuclides, completing the spectroscopic characterization necessary for laser cooling all long-lived barium II isotopes.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2010

Spin gradient thermometry for ultracold atoms in optical lattices

We demonstrate spin gradient thermometry, a new general method of measuring the temperature of ultracold atoms in optical lattices. We realize a mixture of spins separated by a magnetic field gradient. Measurement of the width of the transition layer between the two spin domains serves as a new method of thermometry which is observed to work over a broad range of lattice depths and temperatures, including in the Mott insulator regime. We demonstrate the thermometry in a system of ultracold rubidium atoms, and suggest that interesting spin physics can be realized in this system. The lowest measured temperature is 1 nK, indicating that the system has reached the quantum regime, where insulating shells are separated by superfluid layers.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗