Prospects for using integrated atom-photon junctions for quantum information processing

We investigate the use of integrated, microfabricated photonic-atomic junctions for quantum information processing applications. The coupling between atoms and light is enhanced by using microscopic optics without the need for cavity enhancement. Qubits that are collectively encoded in hyperfine states of small ensembles of optically trapped atoms, coupled via the Rydberg blockade mechanism, seem a particularly promising implementation. Fast and high-fidelity gate operations, efficient readout and long coherence times are all possible. Large numbers of qubits can be achieved because of the intrinsic scalability of the microfabricated optics.