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

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics

Single ion trapped in the focal spot of a deep parabolic mirror

Andrea Golla, Robert Maiwald, Martin Fischer, Marianne Bader, Bénoît Chalopin, Markus Sondermann, Gerd Leuchs

Published Jan 1, 2012• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We report on trapping of single Ytterbium ions in the focal spot of a deep parabolic mirror providing a setup for efficient free space photon atom coupling. Additionally issues regarding imaging, ion localization and fluorescence collection are discussed.
DOI
10.1364/qels.2012.qtu2c.3

Related papers

Collecting more than half the fluorescence photons from a single ion

Robert Maiwald, Andrea Golla, Martin Fischer +5 more

We demonstrate the trapping of a single ion in the focus of a deep parabolic mirror that covers 81$%$ of the solid angle surrounding the ion. Accounting for the reflectivity of the mirror we infer a photon collection efficiency of 54.8$%$ for our setup. The underlying experimentally detected maximum fluorescence rate is $1.91\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}$ s${}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ from a single ${}^{174}$Yb${}^{+}$ ion, mainly limited by the quantum efficiency of our photon detector. Besides the high collection efficiency, the integration of an ion trap into a parabolic mirror is a key ingredient for efficient coupling of light to a single ion in free space.

Physical Review A•Oct 26, 2012•75 citations

Note: Single ion imaging and fluorescence collection with a parabolic mirror trap

Chen-Kuan Chou, Carolyn Auchter, Jennifer Lilieholm +2 more

Efficient fluorescence collection is the most challenging part in remote entangled ion qubit state generation. To address this issue, we developed an ion trap consisting of a reflective parabolic surface and a needle electrode. This parabolic trap design covers a solid angle of 2π steradians and allows precise ion placement at the focal point of the parabola. We measured (39 ± 3)% fluorescence collection from a single ion with this trap and analyzed the mirror optical performance. We observed single ion image spot size of 3.4 times diffraction limit, improved to 2.8 times diffraction limit with the help of an external deformable mirror. The micromotion of the ion is determined to be the limiting factor, and the result is consistent with theoretical calculation.

arXiv:1701.03187•Review of Scientific Instruments•Aug 1, 2017•15 citations

A Single Ion Headlight

Robert Maiwald, Andrea Golla, Martin Fischer +7 more

We report on progress towards achieving a full 4pi solid angle strong coupling between a single trapped ion and a light field using a deep parabolic mirror enabling both efficient photon collection and ion excitation.

•Jan 1, 2011•0 citations

Single-Photon Single-Ion Interaction in Free Space Configuration in Front of a Parabolic Mirror

Magdalena Stobińska, Robert Alicki

The efficient interaction between single photons and single matter objects in free space is of key importance for quantum technologies. An experimental setup for testing this possibility involves single two-level ion trapped at the focus of a parabolic metallic mirror. We study the conditions for the setup, under which the assumption about the free-space mode structure of the radiation field in the vicinity of the atom is justified. In our analysis we apply vectorial properties of light by including the polarization degree of freedom. We look for possible changes in the spontaneous emission rate of the atom resulting from the presence of the parabolic boundary conditions.

arXiv:0905.4014•Open Systems & Information Dynamics•Dec 1, 2012•5 citations

Ions inside a parabolic mirror - Surrounding absorbers with reflective geometry allows for efficient free space-coupling

Robert Maiwald, Andrea Golla, Bénoît Chalopin +4 more

Our research aims at the free-space interaction of a single ion with a surrounding light field. A particularly important ingredient is the illumination of the ion from almost the full solid angle. Conventional ion traps are not built with wide open optical access as their primary design goal and are thus restricting the solid angle accessible to incoming light. By combining a reflective optical element such as a parabolic mirror with a specially designed wide open ion trap we aim to overcome this limitation.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)•May 1, 2011•0 citations

Efficient fluorescence collection from trapped ions with an integrated spherical mirror

Gang Shu, Nathan Kurz, Matthew Dietrich +1 more

Efficient collection of fluorescence from trapped ions is crucial for quantum optics and quantum computing applications, specifically for qubit state detection and in generating single photons for ion-photon and remote ion entanglement. In a typical setup, only a few percent of the ion fluorescence is intercepted by the aperture of the imaging optics. We employ a simple metallic spherical mirror integrated with a linear Paul ion trap to achieve a photon collection efficiency of at least $10%$ from a single Ba${}^{+}$ ion. An aspheric corrector is used to reduce the aberrations caused by the mirror and achieve high image quality.

arXiv:0911.4958•Physical Review A•Apr 26, 2010•36 citations
We demonstrate the trapping of a single ion in the focus of a deep parabolic mirror that covers 81% of the solid angle surrounding the ion. Accounting for the reflectivity of the mirror we infer a photon collection efficiency of 54.8% for our setup. The underlying experimentally detected maximum fluorescence rate is $1.91\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}$ s${}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ from a single 174{}^{174}174Yb+{}^{+}+ ion, mainly limited by the quantum efficiency of our photon detector. Besides the high collection efficiency, the integration of an ion trap into a parabolic mirror is a key ingredient for efficient coupling of light to a single ion in free space.
Efficient fluorescence collection is the most challenging part in remote entangled ion qubit state generation. To address this issue, we developed an ion trap consisting of a reflective parabolic surface and a needle electrode. This parabolic trap design covers a solid angle of 2π steradians and allows precise ion placement at the focal point of the parabola. We measured (39 ± 3)% fluorescence collection from a single ion with this trap and analyzed the mirror optical performance. We observed single ion image spot size of 3.4 times diffraction limit, improved to 2.8 times diffraction limit with the help of an external deformable mirror. The micromotion of the ion is determined to be the limiting factor, and the result is consistent with theoretical calculation.
The efficient interaction between single photons and single matter objects in free space is of key importance for quantum technologies. An experimental setup for testing this possibility involves single two-level ion trapped at the focus of a parabolic metallic mirror. We study the conditions for the setup, under which the assumption about the free-space mode structure of the radiation field in the vicinity of the atom is justified. In our analysis we apply vectorial properties of light by including the polarization degree of freedom. We look for possible changes in the spontaneous emission rate of the atom resulting from the presence of the parabolic boundary conditions.
Our research aims at the free-space interaction of a single ion with a surrounding light field. A particularly important ingredient is the illumination of the ion from almost the full solid angle. Conventional ion traps are not built with wide open optical access as their primary design goal and are thus restricting the solid angle accessible to incoming light. By combining a reflective optical element such as a parabolic mirror with a specially designed wide open ion trap we aim to overcome this limitation.
Efficient collection of fluorescence from trapped ions is crucial for quantum optics and quantum computing applications, specifically for qubit state detection and in generating single photons for ion-photon and remote ion entanglement. In a typical setup, only a few percent of the ion fluorescence is intercepted by the aperture of the imaging optics. We employ a simple metallic spherical mirror integrated with a linear Paul ion trap to achieve a photon collection efficiency of at least 1010%10 from a single Ba+{}^{+}+ ion. An aspheric corrector is used to reduce the aberrations caused by the mirror and achieve high image quality.