T4: Quantum Computing Platforms

The past two decades have seen enormous progress in developing quantum computing systems across a wide array of physical platforms, ranging from photonics and atomic systems to solid-state platforms based on superconductors or semiconductors. Qubits are defined using the internal quantum states of individual photons, electrons, or atoms, or using states of a few or macroscopically many particles. The diversity of systems currently under investigation makes quantum computing, and more generally quantum information science, an unusually broad field that spans a large swathe of physics. This diversity also means that the path to a large-scale quantum computer capable of solving problems of practical interest is far from linear, as each platform offers distinct approaches to achieving this goal. Solid-state platforms often allow for a higher degree of tunability and architecture flexibility, but at the same time can suffer from challenges related to noise or system heterogeneities. In contrast, atomic systems are relatively insensitive to noise and can achieve some of the highest coherence times, but issues such as long gate or readout times can be challenging. These and many more aspects will be covered in the tutorial. Since the field is highly interdisciplinary, the tutorial will feature speakers from atomic physics, condensed matter physics, and quantum optics.

Topics covered:

• Superconducting qubits and circuit quantum electrodynamics

• Semiconductor spin qubits

• Trapped ion qubits

• Neutral atom qubits