A quantum logic gate for free electrons

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 cylinder 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 9

1. Stefan Löffler
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. Peter Hartel

   Corrected Electron Optical Systems (Germany)

   Affiliation as printed

   CEOS Corrected Electron Optical Systems GmbH , Englerstraße 28 , 69126 Heidelberg , Germany

4. 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

5. Rafal 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

6. Martin Obermair

   Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

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

7. Manuel Dries

   Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

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

8. Dagmar Gerthsen

   Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

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

9. 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