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arXiv:2602.07700 · Review of Scientific Instruments

Two-phase driving of a linear radio-frequency ion trap

Santhosh Surendra, Akos Hoffmann, Michael Köhl

quant-phSubmitted Feb 7, 2026• Announced Feb 10, 2026• 0 citations
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Abstract

A linear radio-frequency Paul trap is traditionally driven with one diagonal pair of electrodes grounded and the other connected to a high-voltage radio-frequency source. This method simplifies impedance matching of the voltage source to the trap. However, for several architectures it leads to increasing the axial micromotion amplitude, for example, when the capacitance between radio-frequency and end-cap electrodes is not negligible. Here, we present a technique to generate two high-voltage radio-frequency signals \SI{180}{\degree} out of phase to drive a linear Paul trap with opposite voltages between neighbouring electrodes. Using this, we have successfully trapped and cooled a chain of Ytterbium ions in a linear radio-frequency Paul trap.

Related papers

A Radio-Frequency Ion Trap for Quantum Information Science with Yb+ Ions

Santhosh Surendra

In this thesis, the next generation of the ion trapping setup has been designed, constructed, and successfully implemented for studying quantum information science at the University of Bonn. The new setup is designed to include an optical cavity as the endcap electrodes of a linear radio-frequency ion trap. In view of this, a novel method to drive the linear ion trap is invented to apply two-phase radio-frequency voltage. In addition to this, a new method to directly bias all the electrodes of the ion trap with DC voltages is implemented in order to control the static electric fields along all directions. Using these methods, over 6 ytterbium ions in a linear Coulomb crystal can been trapped, and radial trapping frequencies of over 1.2 MHz have been observed using the aforementioned methods. Low axial-micromotion for over 65 µm along the axis of the ion trap has been observed, although the endcap electrodes are just as close to the trapped ions as the linear electrodes. In view of finding a novel approach for photonic interfacing the Yb ions, the lower-lying energy levels involving inner-shell electron excitations are investigated in this thesis. By considering their properties, the 2D3/2 → 4f13 (2Fo5/2)5d6s(3D) 3[5/2]o3/2 transition is successfully interrogated using direct laser excitation for the first time to the best of my knowledge. The transition frequency is measured to be 603013350 ± 162 MHz for the isotope 174Yb. In addition to the study of quantum information science, the new ion trap -- optical cavity setup is also considered for the experimental investigation of microscopic thermodynamics. In view of this, the Hamiltonian of the complete system is derived and compared with the theoretical models of Hamiltonian engines. Various non-linear terms occurring in the system Hamiltonian are described for studying the concept of ignition in a future single ion engine in our linear ion trap.

•Aug 27, 2026•0 citations

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Stability Diagrams for Paul Ion Traps Driven by Two-Frequencies

G. Possa, Luiz Fernando Roncaratti

In this paper, we present and discuss stability diagrams for Paul traps driven by two ac voltages. In contrast to a typical Paul trap, here we suggest a secondary ac voltage whose frequency is twice the frequency of the primary one. The ratio between their amplitudes can be used to expand the region of stability and to access different states of motion of trapped ions. This provides a further mechanism to trap, cool, and manipulate single ions and also to improve the experimental framework where ion clouds and crystals can be prepared and controlled. Such approach opens the possibility of designing more sophisticated trapping architectures, leading to a wide variety of applications on ion trap research and mass analysis techniques.

The Journal of Physical Chemistry A•Feb 16, 2016•15 citations
A linear radio-frequency Paul trap is traditionally driven with one diagonal pair of electrodes grounded and the other connected to a high-voltage radio-frequency source. This method simplifies impedance matching of the voltage source to the trap. However, for several architectures it leads to increasing the axial micromotion amplitude, for example, when the capacitance between radio-frequency and end-cap electrodes is not negligible. Here, we present a technique to generate two high-voltage radio-frequency signals \SI{180}{\degree} out of phase to drive a linear Paul trap with opposite voltages between neighbouring electrodes. Using this, we have successfully trapped and cooled a chain of Ytterbium ions in a linear radio-frequency Paul trap.
In this thesis, the next generation of the ion trapping setup has been designed, constructed, and successfully implemented for studying quantum information science at the University of Bonn. The new setup is designed to include an optical cavity as the endcap electrodes of a linear radio-frequency ion trap. In view of this, a novel method to drive the linear ion trap is invented to apply two-phase radio-frequency voltage. In addition to this, a new method to directly bias all the electrodes of the ion trap with DC voltages is implemented in order to control the static electric fields along all directions. Using these methods, over 6 ytterbium ions in a linear Coulomb crystal can been trapped, and radial trapping frequencies of over 1.2 MHz have been observed using the aforementioned methods. Low axial-micromotion for over 65 µm along the axis of the ion trap has been observed, although the endcap electrodes are just as close to the trapped ions as the linear electrodes. In view of finding a novel approach for photonic interfacing the Yb ions, the lower-lying energy levels involving inner-shell electron excitations are investigated in this thesis. By considering their properties, the 2D3/2 → 4f13 (2Fo5/2)5d6s(3D) 3[5/2]o3/2 transition is successfully interrogated using direct laser excitation for the first time to the best of my knowledge. The transition frequency is measured to be 603013350 ± 162 MHz for the isotope 174Yb. In addition to the study of quantum information science, the new ion trap -- optical cavity setup is also considered for the experimental investigation of microscopic thermodynamics. In view of this, the Hamiltonian of the complete system is derived and compared with the theoretical models of Hamiltonian engines. Various non-linear terms occurring in the system Hamiltonian are described for studying the concept of ignition in a future single ion engine in our linear ion trap.
Paul traps are widely used to confine electrically charged particles like atomic and molecular ions by using an intense radiofrequency (RF) field, typically obtained by a voltage drop on capacitative electrodes placed in vacuum. We present a RF drive realized on a compact printed circuit board and providing a high-voltage RF signal to a quadrupole Paul trap. The circuit is formed by using four interdependent resonant circuits - each of which is connected to an electrode of a Paul trap - fed by low-noise amplifiers, leading to an output voltage of peak-to-peak amplitude up to 200 V at 3.23 MHz. The presence of a single resonant circuit for each electrode ensures a strong control on the voltage drop on each electrode, e.g., by applying a DC field through a bias tee. Additionally, the moderate quality factor Q = 67 of the resonant circuits ensures a fast operation of the drive, which can be turned on and off in less than 10 μs. Finally, the RF lines are equipped with pickups that sample the RF in phase and amplitude, thus providing a signal that can be used to actively control the voltage drop at the trap's electrodes.
One path to realizing systems of trapped atomic ions suitable for large-scale quantum computing and simulation is to create a two-dimensional (2D) array of ion traps. Interactions between nearest-neighbouring ions could then be turned on and off by tuning the ions' relative positions and frequencies. We demonstrate and characterize the operation of a planar-electrode ion-trap array. By driving the trap with a network of phase-locked radio-frequency resonators which provide independently variable voltage amplitudes we vary the position and motional frequency of a Ca + ion in two-dimensions within the trap array. Work on fabricating a miniaturised form of this 2D trap array is also described, which could ultimately provide a viable architecture for large-scale quantum simulations.
We report on the first demonstration of transport of a multispecies ion crystal through a junction in a rf Paul trap. The trap is a two-dimensional surface-electrode trap with an X\mathsf{X}X junction and segmented control electrodes to which time-varying voltages are applied to control the shape and position of potential wells above the trap surface. We transport either a single 171Yb+{^{171}\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}171Yb+ ion or a crystal composed of a 138Ba+{^{138}\mathrm{Ba}}^{+}138Ba+ ion cotrapped with the 171Yb+{^{171}\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}171Yb+ ion to any port of the junction. We characterize the motional excitation by performing multiple round-trips through the junction and back to the initial well position without cooling. The final excitation is then measured using sideband asymmetry. For a single 171Yb+{^{171}\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}171Yb+ ion, transport with a 4  m/s4\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{s}4  m/s average speed induces between $0.013\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.001$ and $0.014\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.001$ quanta of excitation per round-trip, depending on the exit port. For a Ba-Yb crystal, transport at the same speed induces between $0.013\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.001$ and $0.030\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.002$ quanta per round-trip of excitation to the in-phase axial mode. Excitation in the out-of-phase axial mode ranges from $0.005\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.001$ to $0.021\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.001$ quanta per round-trip.
In this paper, we present and discuss stability diagrams for Paul traps driven by two ac voltages. In contrast to a typical Paul trap, here we suggest a secondary ac voltage whose frequency is twice the frequency of the primary one. The ratio between their amplitudes can be used to expand the region of stability and to access different states of motion of trapped ions. This provides a further mechanism to trap, cool, and manipulate single ions and also to improve the experimental framework where ion clouds and crystals can be prepared and controlled. Such approach opens the possibility of designing more sophisticated trapping architectures, leading to a wide variety of applications on ion trap research and mass analysis techniques.