Experimental research program in solid state quantum information processing

Quantum information processing and quantum computation pose grand challenges for basic and applied science in this century. Creating scalable quantum systems is essential for the realization of practical quantum computing. Solid state quantum systems that can be produced with micro/nano fabrication technologies should offer better scalability. Strong coupling of the solid state system to the environment, however, makes decoherence of an otherwise pure quantum state a much more serious problem to be overcome. This is a new field that is open for conceptual breakthroughs and technology innovation. This article is a brief account of the recent developments using spin, cold atoms, quantum dots, and other functional materials as new quantum information carriers for quantum manipulation experiments in the Solid State Quantum Information Processing Laboratory in the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.