Trapped-ion devices are being investigated for transportable applications, including the transfer of exotic charged particles between laboratories and the development of portable quantum technologies. To date, ion transport has been demonstrated only in magnetic (Penning) traps, whereas radiofrequency (Paul) traps are the predominant platform in quantum science. Here, we report the first transport of a few thousand ions confined in a linear Paul trap over distances of several kilometers, with transport durations of 15 and 45 min. These results establish a foundation for mobile trapped-ion quantum devices capable of operating while in motion and may enable the transport of exotic ions in Paul traps between experimental facilities.Trapped-ion devices are being investigated for transportable applications, including the transfer of exotic charged particles between laboratories and the development of portable quantum technologies. To date, ion transport has been demonstrated only in magnetic (Penning) traps, whereas radiofrequency (Paul) traps are the predominant platform in quantum science. Here, we report the first transport of a few thousand ions confined in a linear Paul trap over distances of several kilometers, with transport durations of 15 and 45 min. These results establish a foundation for mobile trapped-ion quantum devices capable of operating while in motion and may enable the transport of exotic ions in Paul traps between experimental facilities.

quant-pharXiv:2610.20487Oct 15, 20260 citations

Transport of Multispecies Ion Crystals through a Junction in a Radio-Frequency Paul Trap

William Cody Burton, Brian Estey, Ian M. Hoffman +3 more

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 $\mathsf{X}$ 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 ${^{171}\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}$ ion or a crystal composed of a ${^{138}\mathrm{Ba}}^{+}$ ion cotrapped with the ${^{171}\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}$ 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 ${^{171}\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}$ ion, transport with a $4\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{s}$ 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.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 $\mathsf{X}$ 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 ${^{171}\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}$ ion or a crystal composed of a ${^{138}\mathrm{Ba}}^{+}$ ion cotrapped with the ${^{171}\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}$ 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 ${^{171}\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}$ ion, transport with a $4\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{s}$ 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.

arXiv:2206.11888Physical Review LettersApr 28, 202329 citations

Single Ions in Paul Traps

Hanns‐Christoph Nägerl, Christian F. Roos, H. J. Rohde +4 more

Springer eBooksNov 14, 20070 citations

Design of blade-shaped-electrode linear ion traps with reduced anharmonic contributions

Ke Deng, H. Che, Y. Lan +5 more

RF quadrupole linear Paul traps are versatile tools in quantum physics experiments. Linear Paul traps with blade-shaped electrodes have the advantages of larger solid angles for fluorescence collection. But with these kinds of traps, the existence of higher-order anharmonic terms of the trap potentials can cause large heating rate for the trapped ions. In this paper, we theoretically investigate the dependence of higher-order terms of trap potentials on the geometry of blade-shaped traps, and offer an optimized design. A modified blade electrodes trap is proposed to further reduce higher-order anharmonic terms while still retaining large fluorescence collection angle.RF quadrupole linear Paul traps are versatile tools in quantum physics experiments. Linear Paul traps with blade-shaped electrodes have the advantages of larger solid angles for fluorescence collection. But with these kinds of traps, the existence of higher-order anharmonic terms of the trap potentials can cause large heating rate for the trapped ions. In this paper, we theoretically investigate the dependence of higher-order terms of trap potentials on the geometry of blade-shaped traps, and offer an optimized design. A modified blade electrodes trap is proposed to further reduce higher-order anharmonic terms while still retaining large fluorescence collection angle.

Journal of Applied PhysicsSep 18, 20159 citations

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

\mathsf{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

{^{171}\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}

ion or a crystal composed of a

{^{138}\mathrm{Ba}}^{+}

ion cotrapped with the

{^{171}\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}

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

{^{171}\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}

ion, transport with a

4\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{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.