Physics Colloquium - Wolfgang Pfaff

Zoom Recording ID: 81343043189 UUID: 9aVwliZbQZKjUN3x527fqw== Meeting Time: 2026-01-28 09:35:15pmGMT

Title: “Spooky action at a moderate distance: Remote entanglement in superconducting quantum networks”

Abstract:

Quantum entanglement between spatially separated particles is one of the hallmark features -- and original controversies! -- of quantum mechanics: it describes stronger-than-classical correlations that can be observed despite the particles seemingly being fully independent of each other, and regardless of the distance between them. This 'spooky action at a distance' is not only of fundamental interest but can also be harnessed to distribute quantum information; it is a promising avenue for scaling quantum devices toward utility-scale quantum computers. In this talk, I will present our ongoing efforts to investigate how entanglement can be realized in networks of independent superconducting-qubit devices that communicate via microwave photons. Beyond demonstrating the potential for building scalable quantum systems, our experiments have allowed us to shed new light on how remote entanglement can emerge: we show how entanglement between separated qubits can be generated and indefinitely stabilized without any local qubit-qubit interaction, mediated by noise. Our work shows new avenues for scaling quantum devices and explores the limits of quantum state stability in open systems.