This submission is an introduction to microfabricated ion traps. We cover the basics of Paul traps, various geometries for realizing the traps, a number of design considerations, and, finally, a review of existing microfabricated traps.
Multilayer surface-electrode ion traps provide a scalable platform for quantum processors. In this paper we present a demonstrator chip designed to implement an 8-qubit shuttling-based quantum processor with chip-integrated microwave control for quantum gates. The design is based on a linear Paul trap geometry. All-to-all connectivity will be implemented through ion swapping. The production of the trap chip is carried out with multistep microfabrication. The 2-layer ion trap chip with two storage registers and an interaction zone has a size of 5 mm x 10 mm . Flexibility in signal routing is improved through the use of thick and planarised metal–dielectric layers. • Fabrication of multilayer asymmetric ion trap chip aiming to enable an 8-qubit quantum computer. • Brief insight into the linear trap chip design with quantum charged-coupled device architecture. • Wafer level multistep microfabrication procedure of the chip production. • Chip characterisation with respect to the target design features and trapping readiness.
Quantum information processing (QIP) has become a hot research topic as evidenced by S. Haroche and D. J. Wineland receiving the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2012. Various MEMS-based microfabrication methods will be a key enabling technology in implementing novel and scalable ion traps for QIP. This paper provides a brief introduction of ion trap devices, and reviews ion traps made using conventional precision machining as well as MEMS-based microfabrication. Then, microfabrication methods for ion traps are explained in detail. Finally, current research issues in microfabricated ion traps are presented. The QIP renders significant new challenges for MEMS, as various QIP technologies are being developed for secure encrypted communication and complex computing applications.
We describe a novel monolithic ion trap that combines the flexibility and scalability of silicon microfabrication technologies with the superior trapping characteristics of traditional four-rod Paul traps. The performace of the proposed microfabricated trap approaches that of the macroscopic structures. The fabrication process creates an angled through-chip slot which allows backside ion loading and through-laser access while avoiding surface light scattering and dielectric charging. The trap geometry and dimensions are optimized for confining long ion chains with equal ion spacing [G.-D. Lin, et al., Europhys. Lett. 86, 60004 (2009)]. Control potentials have been derived to produce linear, equally spaced ion chains of up to 50 ions spaced at 10 um. With the deep trapping depths achievable in this design, we expect that these chains will be sufficiently long-lived to be used in quantum simulations of magnetic systems [E.E. Edwards, et al., Phys. Rev. B 82, 060412(R) (2010)]. The trap is currently being fabricated at Georgia Tech using VLSI techniques.