How does Bloembergen's work apply to quantum computing?
My work on coherent excitation and relaxation times is directly relevant to quantum computing. In a quantum bit, coherence must be maintained long enough to perform operations—this is analogous to the spin-lattice relaxation I studied in nuclear magnetic resonance. Nonlinear optics also enables quantum control: using lasers to manipulate atomic states via the stimulated Raman effect, which I detailed in my 1982 work. For example, we can create entangled photon pairs through parametric down-conversion, a nonlinear process. Coherence is fragile, but it is the key to quantum control. My methods for measuring relaxation times help design systems with longer coherence, a critical challenge today.
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