A quantum logic gate for free electrons

Quantum, vol. 7, pp. 1050

Abstract

The topological charge m of vortex electrons spans an infinite-dimensional Hilbert space. Selecting a two-dimensional subspace spanned by m=±1 , a beam electron in a transmission electron microscope (TEM) can be considered as a quantum bit (qubit) freely propagating in the column. A combination of electron optical quadrupole lenses can serve as a universal device to manipulate such qubits at the experimenter's discretion. We set up a TEM probe forming lens system as a quantum gate and demonstrate its action numerically and experimentally. High-end TEMs with aberration correctors are a promising platform for such experiments, opening the way to study quantum logic gates in the electron microscope.

Authors 8

1. Stefan Löffler

   TU Wien

   Affiliation as printed

   University Service Centre for Transmission Electron Microscopy, TU Wien, Wiedner Hauptstraße 8-10/E057-02, 1040 Wien, Austria

2. Thomas Schachinger

   TU Wien

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Solid State Physics, TU Wien, Wiedner Hauptstraße 8-10/E138-03, 1040 Wien, Austria

   University Service Centre for Transmission Electron Microscopy, TU Wien, Wiedner Hauptstraße 8-10/E057-02, 1040 Wien, Austria

3. Peng‐Han Lu Aachen

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Ernst Ruska Centre · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Ernst Ruska-Centre for Microscopy and Spectroscopy with Electrons (ER-C) and Peter Grünberg Institute, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany

   RWTH Aachen University, Ahornstraße 55, 52074 Aachen, Germany

4. Rafal E. Dunin‐Borkowski

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Ernst Ruska Centre

   Affiliation as printed

   Ernst Ruska-Centre for Microscopy and Spectroscopy with Electrons (ER-C) and Peter Grünberg Institute, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany

5. Martin Obermair

   Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Laboratorium für Elektronenmikroskopie (LEM), Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT), Engesserstraße 7, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany

6. Manuel Dries

   Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Laboratorium für Elektronenmikroskopie (LEM), Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT), Engesserstraße 7, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany

7. Dagmar Gerthsen

   Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Laboratorium für Elektronenmikroskopie (LEM), Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT), Engesserstraße 7, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany

8. P. Schattschneider

   TU Wien

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Solid State Physics, TU Wien, Wiedner Hauptstraße 8-10/E138-03, 1040 Wien, Austria

   University Service Centre for Transmission Electron Microscopy, TU Wien, Wiedner Hauptstraße 8-10/E057-02, 1040 Wien, Austria