Telecom quantum network node with neutral atoms interfaced with photonic crystals

Three central requirements for practical quantum network nodes are scalability, qubits capable of storing and processing quantum information with high-fidelity, and a telecom interface. While impressive demonstrations have been performed on each of these criteria individually, an architecture that combines all three has remained elusive. With recent advances in optical tweezer technology and nanophotonic interfaces, approaches based on individually trapped atomic qubits have shown promising results towards high-fidelity control and scalability of this platform. In particular, neutral atoms coupled to nanophotonic cavities operating at telecom wavelengths can be used to construct viable quantum network nodes that are well-suited for long-distance entanglement generation. In this talk I will discuss our protocol for generating high-fidelity atom-telecom photon entanglement under realistic conditions of cavity coupling, atomic temperatures and polarization purities. I will also present our recent experimental progress towards setting up the network node including a scalable integration of high-quality factor cavities and a new compact chamber for atom nanophotonic experiments.