Selected topics of quantum computing for nuclear physics

Nuclear physics,whose underling theory is described by quantum gauge field coupled with matter,is fundamentally important and yet is formidably challenge for simulation with classical computers.Quantum computing provides a perhaps transformative approach for studying and understanding nuclear physics.With rapid scaling-up of quantum processors as well as advances on quantum algorithms,the digital quantum simulation approach for simulating quantum gauge fields and nuclear physics has gained lots of attention.In this review,we aim to summarize recent efforts on solving nuclear physics with quantum computers.We first discuss a formulation of nuclear physics in the language of quantum computing.In particular,we review how quantum gauge fields(both Abelian and non-Abelian)and their coupling to matter field can be mapped and studied on a quantum computer.We then introduce related quantum algorithms for solving static properties and real-time evolution for quantum systems,and show their applications for a broad range of problems in nuclear physics,including simulation of lattice gauge field,solving nucleon and nuclear structures,quantum advantage for simulating scattering in quantum field theory,non-equilibrium dynamics,and so on.Finally,a short outlook on future work is given.

Generation of Gaussian-Shape Single Photons for High Efficiency Quantum Storage

We report the generation of heralded single photons with Gaussian-shape temporal waveforms through the spatial light modulation technique in an atomic ensemble. Both the full width at half maximum and the peak position of the Gaussian waveform can be controlled while the single photon nature holds well. We also analyze the bandwidth of the generated single photons in frequency domain and show how the sidebands of the frequency spectrum are modified by the shape of the temporal waveform. The generated single photons are especially suited for the realization of high efficiency quantum storage based on electromagnetically induced transparency.

Coherent Coupling between Microwave and Optical Fields via Cold Atoms

We demonstrate a long-coherent-time coupling between microwave and optical fields through cold atomic ensembles.The phase information of the microwave field is stored in a coherent superposition state of a cold atomic ensemble and is then read out by two optical fields after 12 ms.A similar operation of mapping the phase of optical fields into a cold atomic ensemble and then retrieving by microwave is also demonstrated.These studies demonstrate that long-coherent-time cold atomic ensembles could resonantly couple with microwave and optical fields simultaneously,which paves the way for realizing high-efficiency,high-bandwidth,and noiseless atomic q uant um converters.

Synchronization and Phase Shaping of Single Photons with High-Efficiency Quantum Memory

Time synchronization and phase shaping of single photons both play fundamental roles in quantum information applications that rely on multi-photon quantum interference.Phase shaping typically requires separate modulators with extra insertion losses.Here,we develop an all-optical built-in phase modulator for single photons using a quantum memory.The fast phase modulation of a single photon in both step and linear manner are verified by observing the efficient quantum-memory-assisted Hong-Ou-Mandel interference between two single photons,where the anti-coalescence effect of bosonic photon pairs is demonstrated.The developed phase modulator may push forward the practical quantum information applications.

Production of 87Rb Bose–Einstein Condensate with a Simple Evaporative Cooling Method

A Bose–Einstein condensate with a large atom number is an important experimental platform for quantum simulation and quantum information research.An optical dipole trap is the a conventional way to hold the ultracold atoms,where an atomic cloud is evaporatively cooled down before reaching the Bose–Einstein condensate.A carefully designed trap depth controlling curve is typically required to realize the optimal evaporation cooling.We present and demonstrate a simple way to optimize the evaporation cooling in a crossed optical dipole trap.A polyline shape optical power control profile is easily obtained with our method,by which a pure Bose–Einstein condensate with atom number 1.73×10^5 is produced.Theoretically,we numerically simulate the optimal evaporation cooling using the parameters of our apparatus based on a kinetic theory.Compared to the simulation results,our evaporation cooling shows a good performance.We believe that our simple method can be used to quickly realize evaporation cooling in optical dipole traps.

Increasing the efficiency of post-selection in direct measurement of the quantum wave function

Direct weak or strong measurement of quantum wave function based on post-selections has been widely explored;however, the efficiency of the measurement is heavily limited by the success probability of post-selection. Here we propose a modified scheme to directly measure photon’s wave function by simply inserting a liquid crystal plate before the postselection stage. Numerical simulations demonstrate that our modified method can significantly increase the efficiency of post selection. Our proposal would speed up the quantum wave function measurement with high resolution and high fidelity.

Exploring light-cone distribution amplitudes from quantum computing

Light-cone distribution amplitudes(LCDAs)are essential nonperturbative quantities for theoretical predictions of exclusive highenergy processes in quantum chromodynamics(QCD).We demonstrate the prospect of calculating LCDAs on a quantum computer by applying a recently proposed quantum algorithm,with staggered fermions,to the simulation of the LCDA in the(1+1)-dimensional Nambu-Jona-Lasinio(NJL)model on classical hardware.The agreement between the result from the classical simulation of the quantum algorithm and that from exact diagonalization justifies the proposed quantum algorithm.We find that the resulting LCDA in the NJL model exhibits features shared with the LCDAs obtained from the QCD.

Non-Hermitian topological Anderson insulators

Non-Hermitian systems can exhibit exotic topological and localization properties.Here we elucidate the non-Hermitian effects on disordered topological systems using a nonreciprocal disordered Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model.We show that the non-Hermiticity can enhance the topological phase against disorders by increasing bulk gaps.Moreover,we uncover a topological phase which emerges under both moderate non-Hermiticity and disorders,and is characterized by localized insulating bulk states with a disorder-averaged winding number and zero-energy edge modes.Such topological phases induced by the combination of non-Hermiticity and disorders are dubbed non-Hermitian topological Anderson insulators.We reveal that the system has unique non-monotonous localization behavior and the topological transition is accompanied by an Anderson transition.These properties are general in other non-Hermitian models.

Remote interfacing between superconducting qubits and Rydberg-atom qubits via thermal coupled cavities

We propose a built-in fault-tolerant geometric operation to realize fast remote entanglement between superconducting qubits anchored to a 15 m K plate and Rydberg-atom qubits trapped near a 1 K plate via thermal coupled cavities. We show that this operation is robust against the detrimental effects of the thermal mode states and fluctuations in the control parameters. The operation can generate a high-fidelity entanglement between superconducting and atomic qubits under realistic experimental parameters, comparable to the results of the existing methods using auxiliary cooling systems. The scheme proposed here will promote the development of quantum network and distributed superconducting quantum computation.

Gain/loss effects on spin-orbit coupled ultracold atoms in two-dimensional optical lattices

Due to the fundamental position of spin-orbit coupled ultracold atoms in the simulation of topological insulators, the gain/loss effects on these systems should be evaluated when considering the measurement or the coupling to the environment. Here, incorporating the mature gain/loss techniques into the experimentally realized spin-orbit coupled ultracold atoms in two-dimensional optical lattices, we investigate the corresponding non-Hermitian tight-binding model and evaluate the gain/loss effects on various properties of the system, revealing the interplay of the non-Hermiticity and the spin-orbit coupling. Under periodic boundary conditions, we analytically obtain the topological phase diagram, which undergoes a non-Hermitian gapless interval instead of a point that the Hermitian counterpart encounters for a topological phase transition. We also unveil that the band inversion is just a necessary but not sufficient condition for a topological phase in two-level spin-orbit coupled non-Hermitian systems. Because the nodal loops of the upper or lower two dressed bands of the Hermitian counterpart can be split into exceptional loops in this non-Hermitian model, a gauge-independent Wilson-loop method is developed for numerically calculating the Chern number of multiple degenerate complex bands. Under open boundary conditions, we find that the conventional bulk-boundary correspondence does not break down with only on-site gain/loss due to the lack of non-Hermitian skin effect, but the dissipation of chiral edge states depends on the boundary selection, which may be used in the control of edge-state dynamics. Given the technical accessibility of state-dependent atom loss, this model could be realized in current cold-atom experiments.