Quantum computation and simulation with vibrational modes of trapped ions

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in using vibrational modes of trapped ions as a quantum resource for computation and simulation, highlighting experimental techniques, quantum algorithms, and future challenges.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of theoretical and experimental progress in manipulating vibrational modes for quantum information processing in trapped ions.

Findings

Preparation of non-classical vibrational states

Implementation of quantum simulations using vibrational modes

Potential for scalable quantum computation with vibrational degrees of freedom

Abstract

Vibrational degrees of freedom in trapped-ion systems have recently been gaining attention as a quantum resource, beyond the role as a mediator for entangling quantum operations on internal degrees of freedom, because of the large available Hilbert space. The vibrational modes can be represented as quantum harmonic oscillators and thus offer a Hilbert space with infinite dimension. Here we review recent theoretical and experimental progress in the coherent manipulation of the vibrational modes, including bosonic encoding schemes in quantum information, reliable and efficient measurement techniques, and quantum operations that allow various quantum simulations and quantum computation algorithms. We describe experiments using the vibrational modes, including the preparation of non-classical states, molecular vibronic sampling, and applications in quantum thermodynamics. We finally discuss the potential prospects and challenges of trapped-ion vibrational-mode quantum information processing.