Patents by Inventor Christopher A. MONROE

Christopher A. MONROE has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11261973
    Abstract: A sealing comprises a seal portion and a plate portion fixed to the seal portion. The seal portion can have an undulating configuration of at least one peak and at least one valley, and the plate portion can circumferentially surround the seal portion. The seal portion can be made of a first material and the plate portion can be made of a second material more rigid than the first material. The seal portion can have a radially inward facing contact surface that defines a central opening of the sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Anish Mathur, Ryan P. Morge, Gabriel Sbravatti Ferreira, David W. Holthaus, Mark J. Kiesel, Christopher A. Monroe
  • Publication number: 20210406757
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe techniques that involve an active stabilization of coherent controllers using nearby qubits. In an aspect, a quantum information processing (QIP) system for stabilizing phase damping in qubits is described that provides a first and a second qubit ion, measuring magnetic field fluctuations using the second qubit ion, and generates one or more magnetic fields based on the measured magnetic field fluctuations, the one or more magnetic fields being applied near the first qubit ion to cancel the magnetic field fluctuations to stabilize the phase damping of the first qubit ion. Another such QIP system performs provides a first and a second qubit ion, locks a local oscillator to a frequency reference associated with the second qubit ion, and tracks, using the local oscillator, a frequency of the first qubit ion based on the frequency reference. Methods associated with these QIP systems are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Jungsang KIM, Kenneth BROWN, Christopher MONROE
  • Patent number: 11195117
    Abstract: A modular quantum computer architecture is developed with a hierarchy of interactions that can scale to very large numbers of qubits. Local entangling quantum gates between qubit memories within a single modular register are accomplished using natural interactions between the qubits, and entanglement between separate modular registers is completed via a probabilistic photonic interface between qubits in different registers, even over large distances. This architecture is suitable for the implementation of complex quantum circuits utilizing the flexible connectivity provided by a reconfigurable photonic interconnect network. The subject architecture is made fault-tolerant which is a prerequisite for scalability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignees: University of Maryland, Duke University, University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Christopher Monroe, Jungsang Kim, Robert Raussendorf
  • Publication number: 20210365827
    Abstract: A modular quantum computer architecture is developed with a hierarchy of interactions that can scale to very large numbers of qubits. Local entangling quantum gates between qubit memories within a single modular register are accomplished using natural interactions between the qubits, and entanglement between separate modular registers is completed via a probabilistic photonic interface between qubits in different registers, even over large distances. This architecture is suitable for the implementation of complex quantum circuits utilizing the flexible connectivity provided by a reconfigurable photonic interconnect network. The subject architecture is made fault-tolerant which is a prerequisite for scalability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher MONROE, Jungsang KIM
  • Patent number: 11157826
    Abstract: The disclosure describes various aspects related to enabling effective multi-qubit operations, and more specifically, to techniques for enabling parallel multi-qubit operations on a universal ion trap quantum computer. In an aspect, a method of performing quantum operations in an ion trap quantum computer or trapped-ion quantum system includes implementing at least two parallel gates of a quantum circuit, each of the at least two parallel gates is a multi-qubit gate, each of the at least two parallel gates is implemented using a different set of ions of a plurality of ions in a ion trap, and the plurality of ions includes four or more ions. The method further includes simultaneously performing operations on the at least two parallel gates as part of the quantum operations. A trapped-ion quantum system and a computer-readable storage medium corresponding to the method described above are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignees: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK, IONQ, INC.
    Inventors: Caroline Figgatt, Aaron Ostrander, Norbert M. Linke, Kevin A. Landsman, Daiwei Zhu, Dmitri Maslov, Christopher Monroe
  • Patent number: 11152756
    Abstract: The disclosure describes aspects of laser cavity repetition rate tuning and high-bandwidth stabilization of pulsed lasers. In one aspect, an output optical coupler is described that includes a cavity output coupler mirror, a piezoelectric actuator coupled to the cavity output coupler mirror, a locking assembly within which the cavity output coupler mirror and the piezoelectric actuator are positioned, and one or more components coupled to the locking assembly. The components are configured to provide multiple positional degrees of freedom for tuning a frequency comb spectrum of the pulsed laser (e.g., tuning a repetition rate) by adjusting at least one position of the locking assembly with the cavity output coupler mirror. A method of adjusting an output optical coupler in a pulsed laser is also described. These techniques may be used in different applications, including quantum information processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignees: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK, IONQ, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Monroe, Kai Hudek, Jonathan Mizrahi, Marko Cetina, Sarah Margaret Kreikemeier, Michael Goldman, Kristin Beck
  • Publication number: 20210319973
    Abstract: The disclosure describes various aspects of a cryogenic trapped-ion system. In an aspect, a method is described that includes bringing a chain of ions in a trap at a cryogenic temperature, the trap being a micro-fabricated trap, and performing quantum computations, simulations, or both using the chain of ions in the trap at the cryogenic temperature. In another aspect, a method is described that includes establishing a zig-zag ion chain in the cryogenic trapped-ion system, detecting a change in a configuration of the zig-zag ion chain, and determining a measurement of the pressure based on the detection in the change in configuration. In another aspect, a method is described that includes measuring a low frequency vibration, generating a control signal based on the measurement to adjust one or more optical components, and controlling the one or more optical components using the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher MONROE, Guido PAGANO, Paul W. HESS, Harvey B. KAPLAN, Wen Lin TAN, Philip J. RICHERME
  • Publication number: 20210270374
    Abstract: A sealing comprises a seal portion and a plate portion fixed to the seal portion. The seal portion can have an undulating configuration of at least one peak and at least one valley, and the plate portion can circumferentially surround the seal portion. The seal portion can be made of a first material and the plate portion can be made of a second material more rigid than the first material. The seal portion can have a radially inward facing contact surface that defines a central opening of the sealing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Anish MATHUR, Ryan P. MORGE, Gabriel Sbravatti FERREIRA, David W. HOLTHAUS, Mark J. KIESEL, Christopher A. MONROE
  • Publication number: 20210158200
    Abstract: The disclosure describes aspects of using multiple species in trapped-ion nodes for quantum networking. In an aspect, a quantum networking node is described that includes multiple memory qubits, each memory qubit being based on a 171Yb+ atomic ion, and one or more communication qubits, each communication qubit being based on a 138Ba+ atomic ion. The memory and communication qubits are part of a lattice in an atomic ion trap. In another aspect, a quantum computing system having a modular optical architecture is described that includes multiple quantum networking nodes, each quantum networking node including multiple memory qubits (e.g., based on a 171Yb+ atomic ion) and one or more communication qubits (e.g., based on a 138Ba+ atomic ion). The memory and communication qubits are part of a lattice in an atomic ion trap. The system further includes a photonic entangler coupled to each of the multiple quantum networking nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher MONROE, Martin LICHTMAN, Ismail Volkan INLEK, Clayton CROCKER, Ksenia SOSNOVA
  • Patent number: 11004009
    Abstract: The disclosure describes various aspects of optical control of atomic quantum bits (qubits) for phase control operations. More specifically, the disclosure describes methods for coherently controlling quantum phases on atomic qubits mediated by optical control fields, applying to quantum logic gates, and generalized interactions between qubits. Various attributes and settings of optical/qubit interactions (e.g., atomic energy structure, laser beam geometry, polarization, spectrum, phase, background magnetic field) are identified for imprinting and storing phase in qubits. The disclosure further describes how these control attributes are best matched in order to control and stabilize qubit interactions and allow extended phase-stable quantum gate sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: University of Maryland, College Park
    Inventors: Christopher Monroe, Marko Cetina, Norbert Linke, Shantanu Debnath
  • Patent number: 10998163
    Abstract: The disclosure describes various aspects of a cryogenic trapped-ion system. In an aspect, a method is described that includes bringing a chain of ions in a trap at a cryogenic temperature, the trap being a micro-fabricated trap, and performing quantum computations, simulations, or both using the chain of ions in the trap at the cryogenic temperature. In another aspect, a method is described that includes establishing a zig-zag ion chain in the cryogenic trapped-ion system, detecting a change in a configuration of the zig-zag ion chain, and determining a measurement of the pressure based on the detection in the change in configuration. In another aspect, a method is described that includes measuring a low frequency vibration, generating a control signal based on the measurement to adjust one or more optical components, and controlling the one or more optical components using the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK
    Inventors: Christopher Monroe, Guido Pagano, Paul W. Hess, Harvey B. Kaplan, Wen Lin Tan, Philip J. Richerme
  • Patent number: 10902338
    Abstract: The disclosure describes aspects of using multiple species in trapped-ion nodes for quantum networking. In an aspect, a quantum networking node is described that includes multiple memory qubits, each memory qubit being based on a 171Yb+ atomic ion, and one or more communication qubits, each communication qubit being based on a 138Ba+ atomic ion. The memory and communication qubits are part of a lattice in an atomic ion trap. In another aspect, a quantum computing system having a modular optical architecture is described that includes multiple quantum networking nodes, each quantum networking node including multiple memory qubits (e.g., based on a 171Yb+ atomic ion) and one or more communication qubits (e.g., based on a 138Ba+ atomic ion). The memory and communication qubits are part of a lattice in an atomic ion trap. The system further includes a photonic entangler coupled to each of the multiple quantum networking nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
    Inventors: Christopher Monroe, Martin Lichtman, Ismail Volkan Inlek, Clayton Crocker, Ksenia Sosnova
  • Publication number: 20200219001
    Abstract: The disclosure describes various aspects of a practical implementation of multi-qubit gate architecture. A method is described that includes enabling ions in the ion trap having three energy levels, enabling a low-heating rate motional mode (e.g., zig-zag mode) at a ground state of motion with the ions in the ion trap; and performing a Cirac and Zoller (CZ) protocol using the low-heating rate motional mode as a motional state of the CZ protocol and one of the energy levels as an auxiliary state of the CZ protocol, where performing the CZ protocol includes implementing the multi-qubit gate. The method also includes performing one or more algorithms using the multi-qubit gate, including Grover's algorithm, Shor's factoring algorithm, quantum approximation optimization algorithm (QAOA), error correction algorithms, and quantum and Hamiltonian simulations. A corresponding system that supports the implementation of a multi-qubit gate architecture is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Jungsang KIM, Yunseong NAM, Christopher MONROE
  • Publication number: 20200028312
    Abstract: The disclosure describes aspects of laser cavity repetition rate tuning and high-bandwidth stabilization of pulsed lasers. In one aspect, an output optical coupler is described that includes a cavity output coupler mirror, a piezoelectric actuator coupled to the cavity output coupler mirror, a locking assembly within which the cavity output coupler mirror and the piezoelectric actuator are positioned, and one or more components coupled to the locking assembly. The components are configured to provide multiple positional degrees of freedom for tuning a frequency comb spectrum of the pulsed laser (e.g., tuning a repetition rate) by adjusting at least one position of the locking assembly with the cavity output coupler mirror. A method of adjusting an output optical coupler in a pulsed laser is also described. These techniques may be used in different applications, including quantum information processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher MONROE, Kai HUDEK, Jonathan MIZRAHI, Marko CETINA, Sarah Margaret KREIKEMEIER, Michael GOLDMAN, Kristin BECK
  • Publication number: 20190378033
    Abstract: The disclosure describes various aspects related to enabling effective multi-qubit operations, and more specifically, to techniques for enabling parallel multi-qubit operations on a universal ion trap quantum computer. In an aspect, a method of performing quantum operations in an ion trap quantum computer or trapped-ion quantum system includes implementing at least two parallel gates of a quantum circuit, each of the at least two parallel gates is a multi-qubit gate, each of the at least two parallel gates is implemented using a different set of ions of a plurality of ions in a ion trap, and the plurality of ions includes four or more ions. The method further includes simultaneously performing operations on the at least two parallel gates as part of the quantum operations. A trapped-ion quantum system and a computer-readable storage medium corresponding to the method described above are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Caroline FIGGATT, Aaron OSTRANDER, Norbert M. LINKE, Kevin A. LANDSMAN, Daiwei ZHU, Dmitri MASLOV, Christopher MONROE
  • Publication number: 20190348251
    Abstract: The disclosure describes various aspects of a cryogenic trapped-ion system. In an aspect, a method is described that includes bringing a chain of ions in a trap at a cryogenic temperature, the trap being a micro-fabricated trap, and performing quantum computations, simulations, or both using the chain of ions in the trap at the cryogenic temperature. In another aspect, a method is described that includes establishing a zig-zag ion chain in the cryogenic trapped-ion system, detecting a change in a configuration of the zig-zag ion chain, and determining a measurement of the pressure based on the detection in the change in configuration. In another aspect, a method is described that includes measuring a low frequency vibration, generating a control signal based on the measurement to adjust one or more optical components, and controlling the one or more optical components using the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher MONROE, Guido PAGANO, Paul W. HESS, Harvey B. KAPLAN, Wen Lin TAN, Philip J. RICHERME
  • Publication number: 20190212766
    Abstract: The disclosure describes an adaptive and optimal imaging of individual quantum emitters within a lattice or optical field of view for quantum computing. Advanced image processing techniques are described to identify individual optically active quantum bits (qubits) with an imager. Images of individual and optically-resolved quantum emitters fluorescing as a lattice are decomposed and recognized based on fluorescence. Expected spatial distributions of the quantum emitters guides the processing, which uses adaptive fitting of peak distribution functions to determine the number of quantum emitters in real time. These techniques can be used for the loading process, where atoms or ions enter the trap one-by-one, for the identification of solid-state emitters, and for internal state-detection of the quantum emitters, where each emitter can be fluorescent or dark depending on its internal state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher MONROE, Jiehang ZHANG, David WONG-CAMPOS, Antonios KYPRIANIDIS, Patrick Michael BECKER
  • Publication number: 20190205784
    Abstract: The disclosure describes various aspects of optical control of atomic quantum bits (qubits) for phase control operations. More specifically, the disclosure describes methods for coherently controlling quantum phases on atomic qubits mediated by optical control fields, applying to quantum logic gates, and generalized interactions between qubits. Various attributes and settings of optical/qubit interactions (e.g., atomic energy structure, laser beam geometry, polarization, spectrum, phase, background magnetic field) are identified for imprinting and storing phase in qubits. The disclosure further describes how these control attributes are best matched in order to control and stabilize qubit interactions and allow extended phase-stable quantum gate sequences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher MONROE, Marko CETINA, Norbert LINKE
  • Publication number: 20190138928
    Abstract: The disclosure describes aspects of using multiple species in trapped-ion nodes for quantum networking. In an aspect, a quantum networking node is described that includes multiple memory qubits, each memory qubit being based on a 171Yb+ atomic ion, and one or more communication qubits, each communication qubit being based on a 138Ba+ atomic ion. The memory and communication qubits are part of a lattice in an atomic ion trap. In another aspect, a quantum computing system having a modular optical architecture is described that includes multiple quantum networking nodes, each quantum networking node including multiple memory qubits (e.g., based on a 171Yb+ atomic ion) and one or more communication qubits (e.g., based on a 138Ba+ atomic ion). The memory and communication qubits are part of a lattice in an atomic ion trap. The system further includes a photonic entangler coupled to each of the multiple quantum networking nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher MONROE, Martin LICHTMAN, Ismail Volkan INLEK, Clayton CROCKER, Ksenia SOSNOVA
  • Patent number: 10262849
    Abstract: Disclosed are improved methods and structures for actively stabilizing the oscillation frequency of a trapped ion by noninvasively sampling and rectifying the high voltage RF potential at circuit locations between a step-up transformer and a vacuum feedthrough leading to the ion trap electrodes. We use this sampled/rectified signal in a feedback loop to regulate the RF input amplitude to the circuit. By employing techniques and structures according to the present disclosure we are advantageously able to stabilize a 1 MHz trapped ion oscillation frequency to <10 Hz after 200 s of integration, representing a 34 dB reduction in the level of trap frequency noise and drift, over a locking bandwidth of up to 30 kHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: University of Maryland
    Inventors: Christopher Monroe, Kale Johnson, Jaime David Wong-Campos