Contact: James Riordon
riordon@aps.org
301-209-3238
American Physical Society

Controlling a Qubit with a Comb

Caption: The spectrum of pulse trains from a mode-locked laser consists of a sequence of optical frequencies that are evenly spaced. Pairs of frequencies formed from two 'teeth' on the comb have a definite phase relationship with one another and the pair can control a spin qubit on a trapped ion via a stimulated Raman process. Physicists have now extended this capability to any frequency by splitting the pulses and shifting each with an acousto-optic modulator.

Credit: American Physical Society

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Related news release: Combing a qubit