Quantum logic gate design and optimization

A non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer program instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

• perform an entangling gate operation on a first trapped ion and a second trapped ion of a plurality of trapped ions, which are aligned in a first direction, by:
• generating a pulse sequence that comprises a plurality of laser pulse segments each having ramps formed using a spline at a start and an end thereof, and
• applying the generated laser pulse sequence to the first and second trapped ions,
• wherein each of the plurality of laser pulse segments has a pulse shape with ramps formed using a spline at a start and an end of each of the plurality of laser pulse segments.

A quantum computing system, comprising:

• a plurality of trapped ions that are aligned in a first direction, each of the trapped ions having two hyperfine states defining a qubit;
• one or more lasers configured to emit a laser beam that is split into a pair of non-copropagating laser beams having a first frequency and a second frequency that is provided to a first trapped ion and a second trapped ion of the plurality of trapped ions, wherein the pair of non-copropagating laser beams are configured to cause Rabi flopping of the first trapped ion and the second trapped ion between each of the two hyperfine states and the excited state;
• and
• a controller configured to cause an entangling gate operation to be performed on the first trapped ion and the second trapped ion by generating a laser pulse sequence comprising a plurality of laser pulse segments, and applying the generated laser pulse sequence to the first and second trapped ions.