S. Zhang

Realization of a crosstalk-free two-ion node for long-distance quantum networking

P. -C. Lai [1], Y. Wang [1], J. -X. Shi [1], Z. -B. Cui [1], Z. -Q. Wang [1], S. Zhang [1], P. -Y. Liu [1], Z. -C. Tian [1], Y. -D. Sun [1], X. -Y. Chang [1], B. -X. Qi [1], Y. -Y. Huang [1], Z. -C. Zhou [1,2], Y. -K. Wu [1,2], Y. Xu [1,2], Y. -F. Pu [1,2], L. -M. Duan [1,2]

Abstract

Trapped atomic ions constitute one of the leading physical platforms for building the quantum repeater nodes to realize large-scale quantum networks. In a long-distance trapped-ion quantum network, it is essential to have crosstalk-free dual-type qubits: one type, called the communication qubit, to establish an entangling interface with telecom photons; and the other type, called the memory qubit, to store quantum information immune from photon scattering under entangling attempts. Here, we report the first experimental implementation of a telecom-compatible and crosstalk-free quantum network node based on two trapped $^{40}$Ca$^{+}$ ions. The memory qubit is encoded on a long-lived metastable level to avoid crosstalk with the communication qubit encoded in another subspace of the same ion species, and a quantum wavelength conversion module is employed to generate ion-photon entanglement over a $12\,$km fiber in a heralded style. Our work therefore constitutes an important step towards the realization of quantum repeaters and long-distance quantum networks.