Heterogeneous entanglement between a trapped ion and a solid-state quantum memory
Abstract
Hybrid quantum networks offer a promising architecture for scalable quantum information processing and a future quantum internet, as they can combine the complementary strengths of disparate physical platforms. While single-atom systems provide deterministic quantum logic gates, atomic ensembles enable large-capacity quantum storage. However, generating entanglement between such heterogeneous systems has remained an open challenge, primarily due to fundamental spectral mismatches and system complexity. Here, we demonstrate a hybrid quantum network that entangles a single trapped ion and a quantum memory based on crystal over a 75-m separation. Using polarization-maintaining quantum frequency conversion, we map spin-photon entanglement onto a hybrid entanglement between a single spin qubit and a collective excitation of the quantum memory. The resulting entangled state achieves a fidelity of and violates the CHSH-Bell inequality by 6 standard deviations (), confirming nonlocality between two heterogeneous nodes. This work establishes entanglement between a quantum processing module with a multiplexed quantum memory node, representing a key step toward a scalable, multifunctional quantum internet.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2603.05836,
title = {Heterogeneous entanglement between a trapped ion and a solid-state quantum memory},
author = {Chen-Xu Wang and Yi-Yang Wang and Tian-Xiang Zhu and Qing-Quan Yao and Peng-Jun Liang and Yuan-Cong Li and Zi-Peng Liu and Ran He and Yong-Jian Han and Jin-Ming Cui and Zong-Quan Zhou and Yun-Feng Huang and Chuan-Feng Li and Guang-Can Guo},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2603.05836},
year = {2026}
}
Comments
27 pages,16 figures,2 tables