Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

International Conference on Optical MEMS and Nanophotonics

Application of OMEMS technology in trapped ion quantum computing

Stephen Crain, Emily Mount, So-Young Baek, Jungsang Kim, Peter Maunz

Published Aug 1, 2015• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Scalability is one of the main challenges of trapped ion based quantum computation, partly limited by the ability to manipulate the increasing number of quantum bits (qubits). For individual addressing of qubits, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology allows one to design movable micromirrors to focus laser beams on individual ions and steer the focal point in two dimensions. This system is able to scale to multiple beams, has switching speeds comparable to typical single qubit gate times, and has negligible crosstalk on neighboring ions.

DOI
10.1109/omn.2015.7288890

Related papers

Integrated System Technologies for Modular Trapped Ion Quantum Information Processing

Stephen Crain

Although trapped ion technology is well-suited for quantum information science, scalability of the system remains one of the main challenges. One of the challenges associated with scaling the ion trap quantum computer is the ability to individually manipulate the increasing number of qubits. Using micro-mirrors fabricated with micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology, laser beams are focused on individual ions in a linear chain and steer the focal point in two dimensions. Multiple single qubit gates are demonstrated on trapped 171Yb+ qubits and the gate performance is characterized using quantum state tomography. The system features negligible crosstalk to neighboring ions (< 3e-4), and switching speeds comparable to typical single qubit gate times (< 2 us). In a separate experiment, photons scattered from the 171Yb+ ion are coupled into an optical fiber with 63% efficiency using a high numerical aperture lens (0.6 NA). The coupled photons are directed to superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPD), which provide a higher detector efficiency (69%) compared to traditional photomultiplier tubes (35%). The total system photon collection efficiency is increased from 2.2% to 3.4%, which allows for fast state detection of the qubit. For a detection beam intensity of 11 mW/cm2, the average detection time is 23.7 us with 99.885(7)% detection fidelity. The technologies demonstrated in this thesis can be integrated to form a single quantum register with all of the necessary resources to perform local gates as well as high fidelity readout and provide a photon link to other systems.

•Jan 1, 2016•1 citation

Scalable Optical MEMS Technology for Quantum Information Processing

Caleb W. Knoernschild

Among the various physical systems considered for scalable quantum information processing (QIP), individually trapped ions or neutral atoms have emerged as promising candidates. Recent experiments using these systems have demonstrated the basic building blocks required for a useful quantum computer. In many of these experiments, precisely tuned lasers control and manipulate the quantum bit (qubit) represented in the electronic energy levels of the ion or atom. Scaling these systems to the necessary number of qubits needed for meaningful calculations, requires the development of scalable optical technology capable of delivering laser resources across an array of ions or atoms. That scalable technology is currently not available. In this dissertation, I will report on the development, design, characterization, and implementation of an optical beam steering system utilizing microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology. Highly optimized micromirrors enable fast reconfiguration of multiple laser beam paths which can accommodate a range of wavelengths. Employing micromirrors with a broadband metallic coating, our system has the flexibility to simultaneously control multiple beams covering a wide range of wavelengths. The reconfiguration of two independent beams at different wavelengths (780 and 635 nm) across a common 5x5 array of target sites is reported along with micromirror switching times as fast as 4 us. The optical design of the system minimizes residual intensity at neighboring sites to less than 40 dB below the peak intensity. Integration of a similar system into a neutral atom QIP experiment is reported where 5 individually trapped atoms are selectively manipulated through single qubit rotations with a single laser source. This demonstration represents the first application of MEMS technology in scalable QIP laser addressing.

•Jan 1, 2011•0 citations

MEMS-based optical beam steering system for quantum information processing in two-dimensional atomic systems

Caleb Knoernschild, Changsoon Kim, Bin Liu +2 more

To provide scalability to quantum information processors utilizing trapped atoms or ions as quantum bits (qubits), the capability to address multiple individual qubits in a large array is needed. Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology can be used to create a flexible and scalable optical system to direct the necessary laser beams to multiple qubit locations. We developed beam steering optics using controllable MEMS mirrors that enable one laser beam to address multiple qubit locations in a two-dimensional trap lattice. MEMS mirror settling times of approximately 10 micros were demonstrated, which allow for fast access time between qubits.

arXiv:0711.1811•Optics Letters•Jan 30, 2008•25 citations

Individual addressing of trapped 171Yb+ ion qubits using a microelectromechanical systems-based beam steering system

Stephen Crain, Emily Mount, S. Baek +1 more

The ability to individually manipulate the increasing number of qubits is one of the many challenges towards scalable quantum information processing with trapped ions. Using micro-mirrors fabricated with micro-electromechanical systems technology, we focus laser beams on individual ions in a linear chain and steer the focal point in two dimensions. We demonstrate sequential single qubit gates on multiple 171Yb+ qubits and characterize the gate performance using quantum state tomography. Our system features negligible crosstalk to neighboring ions (⁠<3×10−4⁠), and switching speed comparable to typical single qubit gate times (<2 μs).

Applied Physics Letters•Nov 3, 2014•46 citations

Individual addressing of trapped $^{171}$Yb$^+$ ion qubits using a MEMS-based beam steering system

Stephen Crain, Emily Mount, Baek, S. +1 more

The ability to individually manipulate the increasing number of qubits is one of the many challenges towards scalable quantum information processing with trapped ions. Using micro-mirrors fabricated with micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology, we focus laser beams on individual ions in a linear chain and steer the focal point in two dimensions. We demonstrate sequential single qubit gates on multiple $^{171}$Yb$^+$ qubits and characterize the gate performance using quantum state tomography. Our system features negligible crosstalk to neighboring ions ($< 3\times 10^{-4}$), and switching speed comparable to typical single qubit gate times ($

arXiv:1409.5362•Sep 18, 2014•0 citations

Laser-based manipulation and readout for multi-ion traps in quantum computing (Conference Presentation)

Erik Beckert, Christoph A. Wächter, Bernd Höfer +1 more

Ion traps are one approach to represent Qubits in future quantum computer architectures. Nevertheless, progress has to be made to scale ion trap setups for multiple ions and qubit scaling. Next to the ion trap architecture itself the manipulation of the ion’s state and their readout by means of a laser and fluorescence detection optics are key architectural building blocks. A setup dedicated to the optical addressing of each individual ion in the trap will be described, consisting of micro-optics for diffraction limited focusing of the laser beam onto the ion and a miniaturized actuation mechanism for the micron scale movement of the focus with the ion, where the electrical feedback signal stems from the detection unit. The setup’s design with an initial layout for up to 10 ions in parallel can further be scaled towards ca. 50 ions in parallel at least. Publisher’s Note: The manuscript PDF, originally published on 5 March 2021, was withdrawn on 12 March 2021 per author request.

Quantum Computing, Communication, and Simulation•Mar 4, 2021•0 citations
Scalability is one of the main challenges of trapped ion based quantum computation, partly limited by the ability to manipulate the increasing number of quantum bits (qubits). For individual addressing of qubits, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology allows one to design movable micromirrors to focus laser beams on individual ions and steer the focal point in two dimensions. This system is able to scale to multiple beams, has switching speeds comparable to typical single qubit gate times, and has negligible crosstalk on neighboring ions.
Although trapped ion technology is well-suited for quantum information science, scalability of the system remains one of the main challenges. One of the challenges associated with scaling the ion trap quantum computer is the ability to individually manipulate the increasing number of qubits. Using micro-mirrors fabricated with micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology, laser beams are focused on individual ions in a linear chain and steer the focal point in two dimensions. Multiple single qubit gates are demonstrated on trapped 171Yb+ qubits and the gate performance is characterized using quantum state tomography. The system features negligible crosstalk to neighboring ions (< 3e-4), and switching speeds comparable to typical single qubit gate times (< 2 us). In a separate experiment, photons scattered from the 171Yb+ ion are coupled into an optical fiber with 63% efficiency using a high numerical aperture lens (0.6 NA). The coupled photons are directed to superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPD), which provide a higher detector efficiency (69%) compared to traditional photomultiplier tubes (35%). The total system photon collection efficiency is increased from 2.2% to 3.4%, which allows for fast state detection of the qubit. For a detection beam intensity of 11 mW/cm2, the average detection time is 23.7 us with 99.885(7)% detection fidelity. The technologies demonstrated in this thesis can be integrated to form a single quantum register with all of the necessary resources to perform local gates as well as high fidelity readout and provide a photon link to other systems.
Among the various physical systems considered for scalable quantum information processing (QIP), individually trapped ions or neutral atoms have emerged as promising candidates. Recent experiments using these systems have demonstrated the basic building blocks required for a useful quantum computer. In many of these experiments, precisely tuned lasers control and manipulate the quantum bit (qubit) represented in the electronic energy levels of the ion or atom. Scaling these systems to the necessary number of qubits needed for meaningful calculations, requires the development of scalable optical technology capable of delivering laser resources across an array of ions or atoms. That scalable technology is currently not available. In this dissertation, I will report on the development, design, characterization, and implementation of an optical beam steering system utilizing microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology. Highly optimized micromirrors enable fast reconfiguration of multiple laser beam paths which can accommodate a range of wavelengths. Employing micromirrors with a broadband metallic coating, our system has the flexibility to simultaneously control multiple beams covering a wide range of wavelengths. The reconfiguration of two independent beams at different wavelengths (780 and 635 nm) across a common 5x5 array of target sites is reported along with micromirror switching times as fast as 4 us. The optical design of the system minimizes residual intensity at neighboring sites to less than 40 dB below the peak intensity. Integration of a similar system into a neutral atom QIP experiment is reported where 5 individually trapped atoms are selectively manipulated through single qubit rotations with a single laser source. This demonstration represents the first application of MEMS technology in scalable QIP laser addressing.
To provide scalability to quantum information processors utilizing trapped atoms or ions as quantum bits (qubits), the capability to address multiple individual qubits in a large array is needed. Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology can be used to create a flexible and scalable optical system to direct the necessary laser beams to multiple qubit locations. We developed beam steering optics using controllable MEMS mirrors that enable one laser beam to address multiple qubit locations in a two-dimensional trap lattice. MEMS mirror settling times of approximately 10 micros were demonstrated, which allow for fast access time between qubits.
The ability to individually manipulate the increasing number of qubits is one of the many challenges towards scalable quantum information processing with trapped ions. Using micro-mirrors fabricated with micro-electromechanical systems technology, we focus laser beams on individual ions in a linear chain and steer the focal point in two dimensions. We demonstrate sequential single qubit gates on multiple 171Yb+ qubits and characterize the gate performance using quantum state tomography. Our system features negligible crosstalk to neighboring ions (⁠<3×10−4⁠), and switching speed comparable to typical single qubit gate times (<2 μs).
Individual addressing of trapped 171^{171}171Yb+^++ ion qubits using a MEMS-based beam steering system
The ability to individually manipulate the increasing number of qubits is one of the many challenges towards scalable quantum information processing with trapped ions. Using micro-mirrors fabricated with micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology, we focus laser beams on individual ions in a linear chain and steer the focal point in two dimensions. We demonstrate sequential single qubit gates on multiple 171^{171}171Yb+^++ qubits and characterize the gate performance using quantum state tomography. Our system features negligible crosstalk to neighboring ions (<3×10−4< 3\times 10^{-4}<3×10−4), and switching speed comparable to typical single qubit gate times ($
Ion traps are one approach to represent Qubits in future quantum computer architectures. Nevertheless, progress has to be made to scale ion trap setups for multiple ions and qubit scaling. Next to the ion trap architecture itself the manipulation of the ion’s state and their readout by means of a laser and fluorescence detection optics are key architectural building blocks. A setup dedicated to the optical addressing of each individual ion in the trap will be described, consisting of micro-optics for diffraction limited focusing of the laser beam onto the ion and a miniaturized actuation mechanism for the micron scale movement of the focus with the ion, where the electrical feedback signal stems from the detection unit. The setup’s design with an initial layout for up to 10 ions in parallel can further be scaled towards ca. 50 ions in parallel at least. Publisher’s Note: The manuscript PDF, originally published on 5 March 2021, was withdrawn on 12 March 2021 per author request.