Optical Networking of Atomic Qubits

A large scale quantum computer will likely require optical interconnects, allowing a modular architecture with full connectivity. Atomic systems are natural memory nodes for photonic interfaces, especially atomic ions, which already feature high-performance local quantum gates. There are several atom/photon interface prototols for heralded remote entanglement using photonic qubits encoded in polarization, frequency, or time-bin. I will summarize recent advances in photonically-networked trapped ion systems, at both university and industrial settings. This includes progress on 3-node remote entanglement and the use of modular silicon-vacancy-in-diamond memories that will allow remote entanglement rates and fidelities to be similar to conventional local ion-ion entangement gates.