Optical Quantum Information Processing in Photonic Crystals

"Quantum mechanics predicts that quantum two-level systems - quantum bits, or simply qubits - can provide fundamentally new methods of information processing due to possible existing in an arbitrary coherent superposition of quantum states. That offers anenormous gain in the use of information technology resources such as time and memory. The first qubits and quantum logic gates are now being built in the laboratory. ALTAIR Center proposes to develop a novel practically realizable physical scheme foroptical quantum information processing based on polarized states of atoms embedded in a photonic crystal. Spontaneous decay of the photon-atom bound state is completely suppressed. That allows constructing the long-life qubits and single-atom quantum logicgates. The proposed physical realization solves the problem of decoherence critical for building the quantum information processing devices.In Phase I of this project we will prove feasibility of the proposed concept by modeling simulation and study quantum properties of the degenerate two-level systems embedded in a photonic crystal. In Phase II of the project the obtained results will beapplied to developing of a comprehensive model for the prototype quantum information devices. The developed model will be delivered to DoD by the end of the project. In addition to immediate military applications the quantum information science and technology has great commercialization potential and nic