OSC Colloquium: Mark Saffman

    Thursday, March 21, 2019 - 3:30pm - 5:00pm
    Meinel 307

    1630 E. University Blvd.

    3rd Floor Lobby area


    Open to campus and public.


    Speaker: Mark Saffman 

    Topic: Neutral Atom Quantum Computing

    Host: Poul Jessen 



    Quantum computing is a few decades old and is currently an area where there is great excitement, and rapid developments. One of the daunting challenges in developing a practical quantum computer is the need for a very large number of qubits. Neutral atoms are one of the most promising approaches for meeting this challenge.

    I will describe the current state of play and the optical and atomic physics underlying neutral atom qubits and computation. In addition to their potential for computation, atoms are ideally suited for creating entanglement between stationary and photonic qubits. Rydberg states of atoms couple strongly to electromagnetic fields, particularly at microwave frequencies. I will describe work in progress that seeks to develop functional network nodes that can connect atomic, photonic, and superconducting quantum platforms.

    Speaker Bio(s): 

    Mark Saffman is an experimental physicist working in the areas of atomic physics, quantum and nonlinear optics, and quantum information processing. He has made significant contributions to the physics of optical solitons, pattern formation, sources of entangled light, and quantum computing. His current research effort is  devoted to the development of neutral atom based quantum computing devices. His research team was the first to demonstrate a quantum CNOT gate between two trapped neutral atoms, and the deterministic entanglement of a pair of neutral atoms. This was done using dipole mediated interactions between highly excited Rydberg atoms. He is currently developing scalable neutral atom platforms using arrays of trapped atoms.  

    He is a Professor of Physics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Chief Scientist for Quantum Information at ColdQuanta, Inc. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society and the Optical Society of America and has been recognized with the Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship and a University of Wisconsin Vilas Associate Award. He also serves as an Associate Editor for Physical Review A.


    Refreshments 3:30pm

    Lecture @ 3:45pm - 5pm