Breaking Heisenberg: ~Controlling the Quantum World

The quantum information revolution has taught us that quantum mechanics is not a paler version of its classical counterpart, hindered by intrinsic uncertainty and random measurement outcomes. ~Au contraire! ~A machine whose operation takes full advantage of the laws of quantum mechanics has information processing capabilities well beyond those that are restricted to essentially classical laws. ~To harness this power requires new methods for control and measurement, so that we can make quantum systems do our bidding, rather than what comes naturally. ~In this seminar, I will give an introduction to the basics of quantum information science and progress in the control/measurement tools that make this possible. ~In particular, I will describe one particular platform based on storing quantum bits in individually trapped ultracold atoms. ~It's a Back-to-the-Future vacuum-tube technology!