Quantum information processing in localized modes of light within a photonic band-gap material

The single photon occupation of a localized field mode within an engineered network of defects in a photonic band-gap (PBG) material is proposed as a unit of quantum information (qubit). Qubit operations are mediated by optic ally-excited atoms interacting with these localized states of light as the atoms traverse the connected void network of the PBG structure. We describe conditions under which this system can have independent qubits with contro llable interactions and very low decoherence, as required for quantum compu tation.