Quantum Inform

Science: NIST’s R

the National Ag

Carl J. Williams

Chief, Atomic Physics Divis

Physics Laboratory 

National Institute of Standards and T
A new science!

Informatio

(i.e. comput

communi

crypto

What is Quantum Informa

“Quantum information is a radical departur

information technology, more fundamentdifferent from current technology than thdigital computer is from the abacus.”

W. D. Phillips, 1997 Nobel Prize Winner in Ph

A convergence of two of the 20th Century’s g

Quantum Mechanics

(i.e. atoms, photons, JJ’s,

physics of computation)

The second quantum revolutio
Origin of a National Agen

 Fall 2007, several agencies meet with 

(Director OSTP) and OSTP staff abou

 December 2007, Bill Phillips and I me

Marburger and OSTP staff

 January 2008, Dave Wineland and I m

Marburger and OSTP staff

 March 2008, I am detailed part time to  June 2008, Agency heads brought tog

meeting 

Æ Decisions:

 Create a broad scientific agenda to 

foundation for future technologies 

 Issue a vision document by end of 
The National A

for Quant

Information S

Carl J. Williams

Senior Policy Analyst

Office of Science and Technolog

Executive Office of the Presi
What is OSTP?

 Established 1976 by the National Sc

Technology Policy, Organization an

 OSTP’s responsibilities include:

 Advise the President in policy formulatio

development for science and technology 

 Articulate the President’s S&T policies a Foster partnerships among Federal, sta

governments and scientific communities

 OSTP and OMB (Office of Managem

Budget) annually issue a memo on Priorities

 OSTP Policy Arm is the National Sc

Technology Council (NSTC) – its CoSubcommittees including agency re

Office of Science and Technolog
Subcommittee on QIS (SQ

 SQIS es

under thNSTC i2008

 “A Fede

QuantuScienceJanuary 

 January 

decides worksho
SQIS Report

 What is the true power of a general pur

computer, what problems does it allow efficiently, and what does it teach us ab

 Are there fundamental limits to our abili

manipulate quantum systems, and whathey place on technology and QIS?

 Are there exotic new states of matter th

collective quantum systems, what are thhow robust are they to environmental indo these collective quantum phenomencomplexity of the quantum computing dbuild?

Æ A follow-on Investment Strategy is in 
Case for QIS

 Quote from the SQIS Workshop Report

“We do not yet have a clear picture of how QIthe science and technology of the 21st centurthe most far-reaching quantum technologies hanticipated, and will emerge only as basic rescontinues to mature and develop. But as the emphasizes, QIS will require long-term focusdecade or more from a variety of government national laboratories if the US is to achieve anglobal leadership position while training a new quantum scientists and engineers. We hope ton Quantum Information Science and this repnucleate a cohesive national effort that will nuinvigorate this vitally important emerging field

http://www.eas.caltech.edu/qis2009/QIS-Worksh

2009.pdf
Origin of NIST’s QIS R&

 Core capability arises from NIST’s con

individual quantum states of atoms 

Æ 

 In 1992, Dave Wineland notes that ce

(“entangled”) quantum states of atoms atomic clock accuracy

 In 2000, NIST initiates a focused QIS 

 Goal to demonstrate basic quantum lo Builds on Dave Wineland’s 1995 dem

first quantum-logic gate

 Explores a number of qubit technolog Supports R&D efforts of NSA, DARPA

predecessors)
NIST QI Program 

Computing with ion traps (PL, ITL)

Computing with neutral atom lattices (PL

Q

Quantum Communications (ITL, PL)

Quantum optical metrology (EEEL, ITL); Single photon sources, detectors (EEEL, PL, ITL)
Implications are Compell

... for science & engineering

 Efficient solutions to challenging 

problems

 Improved clocks Improved measurements

... for national security

 Breakthroughs in codebreaking, pattern 

matching

 Secure defense communications

 ... for commerce

 Obsolescence of existing public-key 

cryptosystems

 Maintenance of lead in computer 

technology
QIS Remains Very Challe

 Quantum information is volatile

 How to prevent information from evaporat

decoherence?

 Many potential physical realizations

 How to assess practicality for information  What are the benefits of various qubit tech How do we transform quantum informatio

 Fundamentally different approach to computa

unitary evolution

 What are elementary operations and how 

realized?

 How does one map a task to the physical  What new problems can be solved?

 Quantum engineering is in its infancy

 How select/develop components suitable 

quantum systems?

 How scale up systems to be able to solve 
NIST’s Role in QIS

 Understand quantum computers effec

deployed public key (PK) cryptosystem

 PK Infrastructure is essential to com PK Algorithms must be quantum re Develop new R&D capability to sup

security in post-quantum world

 Hold potential new competition for 

 Continue exploring fundamental limits 

and manipulation

 Explore applications of few qubit enta

improved measurements (clocks, imaamplification, ...) 

Æ Quantum Based M

 Explore exotic quantum states and po

emergent phenomena and their applic
Quantum Based Measure

Existing efforts: Quantum Logic Clock Entanglement Based Clocks

New thrusts:

 Super-resolution imaging Improved phase measurements Better optical detector calibration Absolute optical calibration base

counting

 High speed low noise amplifiers Low noise amplifiers
Recent Local NIST Highl

 Randomized benchmarking of quantu

accurate measurement of 1-qubit gate 

 Stylus ion trap for enhanced access & 

ion traps for improved measurements magnetic fields, ...

 Frequency ratio of Al+ & Hg+ single-io

quantum logic clock; measuring time v

 Infrared wavelength-dependent optica

of NbN nanowire superconducting sindetectors

 Josephson phase qubit circuit for the 

advanced tunnel barrier materials

 Parametric coupling between macrosc

resonators
Summary of NIST QIS R

 NIST is a leader in QIS

 World class R&D effort Asked to provide a detailee to coordin Co-chairs the NSTC Subcommittee fo Supports basic R&D efforts of other ag Has unique NIST implications for both 

science as well as standards

 NIST is preparing for future measurem

needs and standards in QIS

 NIST’s capabilities are built on core la

programs but are already exploring imnext generation measurement (clocks
The End: Schrödinger's C