Quantum Processing Nodes with Single Ions in Solid-State
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Rare earth ions doped into solid-state crystals provide exceptional optical and hyperfine coherence, which renders them promising candidates for quantum optical applications, ranging from quantum memories, quantum-nonlinear optics and quantum processing. However, the dipole-forbidden nature of the narrow transitions results in very weak interaction with light, hence limiting most experiments to macroscopic ensembles. Efficient access to a single ion allows it to act as a qubit, thereby allowing us to exploit the full potential of these systems. For example, this could enable us to demonstrate deterministic narrowband single photon sources as well as single-ion spin-photon interfaces at telecommunication wavelength. The existence of permanent electric dipole moment in rare earth ions allows for interaction between nearby ions, which can be utilized for quantum computing purposes.
