Abstract: Trapped ions are a leading quantum technology for quantum computation and simulation, with the capability to solve computationally hard problems and deepen our understanding of complex quantum systems. The quantum circuit model is the central paradigm for quantum computation, enabling the realization of various quantum algorithms by application of multiple one- and two-qubit entangling operations. However, the typical number of entangling operations required by this model increases exponentially with the number of qubits, making it difficult to apply to many problems.
In my presentation, I will discuss new methods for realizing quantum gates and simulations that go beyond the quantum circuit model. I will first describe a single-step protocol for generating native, N-body interactions between trapped-ion spins, using spin-dependent squeezing. Next, I will present a preparation of novel phases of matter using simultaneous and reconfigurable spin-spin interactions. Lastly, I will explore new avenues to harness the long-lived phonon modes in trapped-ion crystals for simulating complex bosonic and spin-boson models that are difficult to solve using classical methods. The presented techniques could push the performance of trapped-ion systems to solve problems that are currently beyond their reach.
Bio: Dr. Or Katz is a postdoctoral associate at Christopher Monroe's trapped-ion group at Duke University. He earned his PhD with honors from the Weizmann Institute of Science, where he researched light-matter interactions using atomic ensembles of alkali-metal and noble gas spins. Or has ten years of experience as a researcher in the Israeli industry and has conducted additional interdisciplinary research on systems of ultracold atoms and ions, twisted bilayer graphene, and the search for new physics using precision measurements. His current research focuses on quantum simulations and computation using systems of trapped ions.