Limits to optical imaging of trapped ions

Joachim von Zanthier, C. Thiel, Thierry Bastin +1 more

Pengcheng Zheng, Zerui Huang, Junxia Li +3 more

We demonstrate the first integration of a metalens inside the ultra-high-vacuum (UHV) chamber of an ion trap, enabling near-diffraction-limited imaging of trapped ions. A single trapped Yb + ion is laser-cooled close to the Lamb–Dicke regime to characterize the metalens performance, achieving a full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) of 1.16 ± 0.09 μm, which aligns closely with the Abbe diffraction limit of 1.15 μm and outperforms conventional external-cavity lenses (2.37 ± 0.12 μm) with the same numerical aperture. We further demonstrate near-diffraction-limited imaging of multi-ion systems over the accessible off-axis range. Our results establish the metalens as a superior optical element for ion fluorescence imaging, providing higher resolution for applications in ion position calibration, multi-qubit readout, and precision measurement. Furthermore, this miniaturized and integrable approach overcomes traditional optical constraints, delivering near-diffraction-limited imaging and advancing the development of compact ion trap platforms.

D. Kielpinski, Valdis Blūms, Moji Ghadimi +5 more

Steven Connell

Trapped ion quantum networking aims at distributing quantum information between distant parties. Entanglement links between distant ions are mediated with photonic qubits, necessitating the need for efficient ion-photon interfaces. This thesis reports on progress towards improving the main limitations of creating a practical quantum network by using diffractive optics for high numerical aperture imaging of trapped ions. The diffractive optics are near-planar, patterned structures which are fabricated to collimate a large fraction of ion uorescence, with low aberration, for high resolution imaging. Patterning the central grounding electrode on a chip trap allows the ion to be within less than 100 microns of the surface. Large scale quantum networks will require a large number of ions and ion-photon interfaces. To scale the ion trap system, microfabricated surface traps can be used allowing for the opportunity to etch diffractive mirrors directly onto the trap surface. Collecting ion uorescence with the diffractive mirror, we show the highest ion-single mode optical fibre coupling efficiency, which enhances the entanglement rate of a quantum network. We then build a high resolution UV spectrometer to distinguish between frequency entangled photonic qubits. Frequency qubits offer more robust encoding when compared with polarisation qubits, as a result of energy conservation. Using the spectrometer we demonstrate correlations between the ion's internal state and the frequency state of an entangled photonic qubit. Quantum networks will require local quantum information processing using ion-ion gates to distribute entanglement over the entire network. Typically, the speed of these gates is presently limited to ~10 µs by the secular trap frequency. We demonstrate the first steps towards a fast ion-ion gate, not limited by the secular frequency, based on strong optical forces generated by the coherent, resonant absorption and stimulated emission of light from an ultrafast, pulsed laser. A full-scale quantum network will require many ion trap installations each with their own laser systems. For this challenge we demonstrate simple, robust, and cost-effective methods to lock the 399 nm photoionisation laser, based on polarisation spectroscopy through a hollow cathode lamp, and an opto-mechanical switch which allows locking of multiple lasers to a wavelength meter. Another scalable diffractive optic used is a phase Fresnel lens integrated into a 3D quadrupole ion trap system. The limits of imaging with this lens are tested by demonstrating force sensing at a sub-attoNewton level with super-resolution imaging techniques to find the ion location.

Ch. Schneider, Martin Enderlein, Thomas M. Huber +1 more

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.