Quantum repeater segment with free-space coupled co-trapped ions using telecom photon interference

Abstract

A quantum repeater segment is a basic building block of a quantum repeater, generating buffered entanglement of quantum memories to connect quantum repeater cells. It also enables the connection between quantum computers. In the implementation we present here, photons emitted from two co-trapped free-space coupled ${}^{40}$Ca${}^{+}$ ions are converted to the telecom-C band and interfered after transmission over 440m of optical fiber (220m per arm), where a photonic Bell measurement is performed to create entanglement between the memories. With this scheme we generate an entangled $|\hat{I}{¨}^{+}⟩$ Bell state with $\ge 68(8)$% fidelity, highlighting trapped ${}^{40}$Ca${}^{+}$ ions as a promising quantum repeater hardware platform.

11 pages, 7 figures