A -- Research support for

In the absence of other qualified sources, it is the intent of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of the Department of Commerce to acquire a combined experimental/theoretical investigation of the sympathetic cooling of trapped Be+ and Mg+ ions to support its work on trapped-ion quantum computation from the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado. The specific work described here is to carry out a key component of the division's contract with the National Security Agency/Advanced Research Projects Agency (NSA/ARDA) to build a prototype quantum information processor based on trapped ions. This project supports the broader NIST internally supported program in quantum information. The project is comprised of the following tasks: (1) Set up of ion traps, lasers and ancillary equipment for laser cooling and quantum state manipulation of beryllium (Be+) ions and magnesium (Mg+) ions that are trapped in multi-zone linear rf traps, (2) Characterize the sympathetic cooling of Be+ ions by Mg+ ions (and visa-versa) in a single trap, (3) Characterize the sympathetic re-cooling of one ion species by the other after one ion species has been transferred from one trapping zone to another, (4) Carry out coherent quantum logic operations between ions located in one trap zone with those located in another trap zone through ion transfer and sympathetic re-cooling after transfer and (5) Compare experimental results with theoretical predictions. The tasks described above need to be successfully completed in parallel with the other components of the quantum computation processor system. The period of performance is expected to consist of a basic one year contract and a 6-month option period. The place of performance will be the NIST Boulder Laboratories. Dr. Murray Barrett through the Physics Department at the University of Colorado is uniquely qualified to carry out this work in a timely fashion. He possesses the following required skills: experience with single-frequency CW UV laser sources, high-vacuum technology, and the operation of RF ion traps. He also has a background in trapping, laser-cooling, and quantum-state manipulation of beryllium and magnesium atomic ions and the construction of high-vacuum apparatus and laser systems required to work with these specific atomic species. Dr. Barrett has already spent 10 months working on the preliminary theory and experiments for Be+ and Mg+ sympathetic cooling. This notice may represent the only notice. See note 22.