Researchers entangle record number of ions in quantum trap
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.029887
New Scientist : To study strongly interacting quantum systems, researchers have been trying to assemble larger numbers of entangled particles. Now Justin Bohnet of NIST and his colleagues have set a new record by trapping 219 beryllium ions and entangling their quantum properties. The researchers used the electric and magnetic fields of a Penning trap to grab multiple ions, which then assembled themselves into a two-dimensional crystal array. One pair of lasers was used to cool the array to near absolute zero, while another altered the spins of the ions’ outermost electrons and caused the ions to become entangled. Such systems of entangled ions could be used to study high-temperature superconducting materials and to improve quantum computers.