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arXiv:2410.06639 · Journal of Physics Conference Series

Preliminary characterization of a surface electrode Paul trap for frequency metrology

Josipa Madunic, Lucas Groult, Bachir Achi, T. Lauprêtre, Alan Boudrias, Pierre Roset, Valérie Soumann, Y. Kersalé, Moustafa Abdel Hafiz, Clément Lacroûte

Published Nov 1, 2024• 0 citations
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Abstract

Abstract We are developing a single-ion optical clock based on a surface-electrode (SE) trap that we will operate with 171Yb+ ions on the electric quadrupole transition at 435.5 nm. We present heating rate measurements performed with a prototype SE trap. We also introduce a new, micro-fabricated SE trapping chip using silicon on insulator technology. Electric tests were performed under ultra-high vacuum using a testing chip, including breakdown voltages measurements and flashover detection. We present suitable trapping parameters for this chip, as well as a road-map for improving its design.

DOI
10.1088/1742-6596/2889/1/012013

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Trapped ions in linear Paul traps are largely isolated from interaction with the environment. This property of trapped ions make them a primary choice for quantum technology. \nOver the last decade, trapped atomic ions in linear radio frequency Paul traps have shown to be an important tool to implement quantum algorithms. The scalability of linear ion \ntraps is required to handle large numbers of qubits, in order to implement useful quantum computation. Advance micro-fabrication technology allows the realisation of scalable ion traps. Further developments of micro-trap designs, for the purpose of scalable quantum technology, requires inter-disciplinary investigations of ion traps. Micro-scale ion trap designs typically require a versatile experimental setup. The first part of this thesis describes such an experimental setup including a chip bracket that can host macroscopic ion traps as well as advanced symmetric and asymmetric ion trap chips with up to 90 control electrodes. The system provides versatile optical access for both type of traps and the vacuum chamber is designed in a way so the ion traps can be replaced within a short amount of time. To test the working of the setup, a macroscopic ion trap with an ion-electrode distance of 310±10 μm is used to trap ytterbium ions (Yb+). The trap is characterised by measuring the heating rate, (n•), and spectral noise density SE(ω). A \nphotoionisation technique is used to ionise the different isotopes of Yb in our trap. Isotope selective photoionisation requires exact measurements of 1So↔1P1 transition for the different Yb isotopes. A technique to measure these resonant frequencies is described. \nThis technique works by observing and aligning fluorescence spots and by using this technique, the 1So↔1P1 transition frequencies for stable isotopes of Yb were measured with an accuracy of 60 MHz. These new measured transition frequencies for stable Yb isotopes differ from previously published work by 660 MHz. Furthermore, this technique can also be used to obtain the transition frequencies at different laser-atomic beam angles, typical for non-perpendicular laser-atomic beam angles. The second part of this thesis discusses the optimisation of surface trap geometries as they are being used to implement scalable ion trap designs which consist of a large number of trapping zones. The trap depth in surface traps is low compared to symmetric traps of similar dimensions. How to optimise the trap geometry to achieve maximum trap depth for a given ion height above the trap electrodes, is discussed. Fast and adiabatic ion shuttling operations in one dimension as well as ion separation and recombination processes are important for many quantum information implementations. The maximum speed of separation of trapped ions for adiabatic shuttling operations depends on the secular frequencies, the trapped ion experiences in the process. It will be shown how such ion trap structures have to be designed for fast ion separation process and linear shuttling. Numerical results of adiabatic shuttling operations for trapped ions in such trap structures are also presented.

•Aug 6, 2011•1 citation
Abstract We are developing a single-ion optical clock based on a surface-electrode (SE) trap that we will operate with 171Yb+ ions on the electric quadrupole transition at 435.5 nm. We present heating rate measurements performed with a prototype SE trap. We also introduce a new, micro-fabricated SE trapping chip using silicon on insulator technology. Electric tests were performed under ultra-high vacuum using a testing chip, including breakdown voltages measurements and flashover detection. We present suitable trapping parameters for this chip, as well as a road-map for improving its design.
We report on the progress on a single-ion optical clock that is being developed at the FEMTO-ST institute. Our objective is to reach a fractional frequency stability of the order of 10-14 at one second for a total volume well below 500 L. The experimental setup is based on a surface electrode single-ion trap. A new trapping chip was designed and produced at the local cleanroom facility, using deep reactive-ion etching (DRIE) on a silicon on insulator- (SOI) wafer. Paul traps require a source of highly-stable and low noise voltage in the radio-frequency (RF) domain. A resonator of our own design has been used to supply high voltage to the trap. We have developed and implemented techniques for 3D micromotion reduction in order to minimize the 2nd order Doppler shift. Indeed, for Yb+ optical spectroscopy, second order Doppler shift and Stark shift due to the ac fields can contribute significantly to the uncertainty budget. We will present the latest results of the trap characterization, which should include lifetime and heating rate measurements of the trap.
Trapped ions within Paul traps have shown to be a promising architecture in the realisation of a quantum information processor together with the ability of providing quantum simulations. Linear Paul traps have demonstrated long coherence times with ions being well isolated from the environment, single and multi-qubit gates and the high fidelity detection of states. The scalability to large number of qubits, incorporating all the previous achievements requires an array of linear ion traps. Microfabrication techniques allow for fabrication and micron level accuracy of the trap electrode dimensions through photolithography techniques. The first part of this thesis presents the experiential setup and trapping of Yb+ ions needed to test large ion trap arrays. This include vacuum systems that can host advanced symmetric and asymmetric ion traps with up to 90 static voltage control electrodes. Demonstration of a single trapped Yb+ ion within a two-layer macroscopic ion trap is presented. with an ion-electrode distance of 310(10) µm. The anomalous heating rate and spectral noise density of the trap was measured, a main form of decoherence within ion traps. The second half of this thesis presents the design and fabrication of multi-layer asymmetric ion traps. This allows for isolated electrodes that cannot be accessed via surface pathways, allowing for higher density of electrodes as well as creating novel trap designs that allow for the potential of quantum simulations to be demonstrated. These include two-dimensional lattices and ring trap designs in which the isolated electrodes provide more control in the ion position. For the microfabrication of these traps I present a novel high-aspect ratio electroplated electrode design that provides shielding of the dielectric layer. This provides a means to mitigate stray electric field due to charge build up on the dielectric surfaces. Electrical testing of the trap structures was performed to test bulk breakdown and surface flashover of the ion trap architectures. Results showed sufficient isolation between electrodes for both radio frequency and static breakdown. Surface flashover voltage measurements over the dielectric layer showed an improvement of more than double over previous results using a new fabrication technique. This will allow for more powerful ion trap chips needed for the next generation of microfabricated ion trap arrays for scalable quantum technologies.
An electroformed, three-dimensional stylus Paul trap was designed to confine a single atomic ion for use as a sensor to probe the electric-field noise of proximate surfaces. The trap was microfabricated with the UV-LIGA technique to reduce the distance of the ion from the surface of interest. We detail the fabrication process used to produce a 150 μm tall stylus trap with feature sizes of 40 μm. We confined single, laser-cooled, (25)Mg(+) ions with lifetimes greater than 2 h above the stylus trap in an ultra-high-vacuum environment. After cooling a motional mode of the ion at 4 MHz close to its ground state (<n> = 0.34 ± 0.07), the heating rate of the trap was measured with Raman sideband spectroscopy to be 387 ± 15 quanta/s at an ion height of 62 μm above the stylus electrodes.
Trapped ions in linear Paul traps are largely isolated from interaction with the environment. This property of trapped ions make them a primary choice for quantum technology. \nOver the last decade, trapped atomic ions in linear radio frequency Paul traps have shown to be an important tool to implement quantum algorithms. The scalability of linear ion \ntraps is required to handle large numbers of qubits, in order to implement useful quantum computation. Advance micro-fabrication technology allows the realisation of scalable ion traps. Further developments of micro-trap designs, for the purpose of scalable quantum technology, requires inter-disciplinary investigations of ion traps. Micro-scale ion trap designs typically require a versatile experimental setup. The first part of this thesis describes such an experimental setup including a chip bracket that can host macroscopic ion traps as well as advanced symmetric and asymmetric ion trap chips with up to 90 control electrodes. The system provides versatile optical access for both type of traps and the vacuum chamber is designed in a way so the ion traps can be replaced within a short amount of time. To test the working of the setup, a macroscopic ion trap with an ion-electrode distance of 310±10 μm is used to trap ytterbium ions (Yb+). The trap is characterised by measuring the heating rate, (n•), and spectral noise density SE(ω). A \nphotoionisation technique is used to ionise the different isotopes of Yb in our trap. Isotope selective photoionisation requires exact measurements of 1So↔1P1 transition for the different Yb isotopes. A technique to measure these resonant frequencies is described. \nThis technique works by observing and aligning fluorescence spots and by using this technique, the 1So↔1P1 transition frequencies for stable isotopes of Yb were measured with an accuracy of 60 MHz. These new measured transition frequencies for stable Yb isotopes differ from previously published work by 660 MHz. Furthermore, this technique can also be used to obtain the transition frequencies at different laser-atomic beam angles, typical for non-perpendicular laser-atomic beam angles. The second part of this thesis discusses the optimisation of surface trap geometries as they are being used to implement scalable ion trap designs which consist of a large number of trapping zones. The trap depth in surface traps is low compared to symmetric traps of similar dimensions. How to optimise the trap geometry to achieve maximum trap depth for a given ion height above the trap electrodes, is discussed. Fast and adiabatic ion shuttling operations in one dimension as well as ion separation and recombination processes are important for many quantum information implementations. The maximum speed of separation of trapped ions for adiabatic shuttling operations depends on the secular frequencies, the trapped ion experiences in the process. It will be shown how such ion trap structures have to be designed for fast ion separation process and linear shuttling. Numerical results of adiabatic shuttling operations for trapped ions in such trap structures are also presented.