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Coupling Free Electrons to a Trapped-Ion Quantum Computer

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Freely propagating electrons may serve as quantum probes that can become coherently correlated with other quantum systems, offering access to advanced metrological resources. We propose a setup that coherently couples free electrons in an electron microscope to a trapped-ion quantum processor, enabling nondestructive, quantum-coherent detection and the accumulation of information across multiple electrons. Our analysis shows that single electrons can induce resolvable qubit excitations, establishing a platform for practical applications such as quantum-enhanced, dose-efficient electron microscopy.

Source: Physical Review Letters

DOI: 10.1103/w6t7-9txs

Authors: Elias Pescoller, Santiago Beltrán-Romero, Sebastian Egginger, Nicolas Jungwirth, Martino Zanetti, Dominik Hornof, Michael S. Seifner, Iva Březinová, Philipp Haslinger, Thomas Juffmann, Johannes Kofler, Dennis Rätzel, Philipp Schindler

Institutions: TU Wien, Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology, Johannes Kepler University of Linz, Universität Innsbruck, University of Vienna, Max Perutz Labs, University of Bremen

Language: English

Topic: Quantum Information and Cryptography

Subfield: Artificial Intelligence

Field: Computer Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,750

Funders: Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Austrian Science Fund

Awards: Quantum-Computer-Enhanced Microscopy (QCEM), Quantum Klystron, G5302217128, Quantum Optics with Electron-Photon Pairs, Lattice Atom Interferometry (LATIN)

OpenAlex ID: W7124714762

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