The construction of small-scale quantum communication networks provides
an important near term goal for experimental research in quantum
information science. Specific challenges include the implementation of
local nodes with modest quantum memory and information-processing
capacity, the design and construction of robust quantum communication
channels, and the integration of efficient methods for suppressing
decoherence. Ongoing work at Caltech seeks to address these challenges
within the paradigm of cavity quantum electrodynamics with trapped
neutral atoms, where the internal states of individual atoms will serve
as storage and processing qubits while photons convey quantum
information from node to node. Our current experimental research
focuses on robust techniques for quantum state mapping between these
storage and transmission media and on methods for error-corrected
quantum communication over multi-kilometer distances. We are also
pursuing a broad spectrum of theoretical projects, including the
application of model reduction and semi-definite programming methods to
quantum network analysis.
In collaboration with the group of Erik Winfree, our group is also
working on experimental and theoretical techniques relevant to
autonomous molecular computation with DNA. These include the
development of a new optical technique for studying fast structural
fluctuations in oligonucleotide complexes, and an investigation of the
utility of balanced truncation methods for reduction of Markov chains
representing secondary-structure dynamics.
Some relevant preprints may be found at
http://minty.caltech.edu/MabuchiLab/
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