Transport dynamics of single ions in segmented microstructured Paul trap arrays

We present a brief critical review of the proposals for quantum computation with trapped ions, with particular emphasis on the possibilities for quantum computation without the need for cooling to the quantum ground state of the ions' collective oscillatory modes.

The micromotion of ion crystals confined in Paul traps is usually considered an inconvenient nuisance, and is thus typically minimised in high-precision experiments such as high-fidelity quantum gates for quantum information processing. In this work, we introduce a particular scheme where this behavior can be reversed, making micromotion beneficial for quantum information processing. We show that using laser-driven micromotion sidebands, it is possible to engineer state-depen...

We report the design, fabrication, and characterization of a microfabricated surface-electrode ion trap that supports controlled transport through the two-dimensional intersection of linear trapping zones arranged in a ninety-degree cross. The trap is fabricated with very-large-scalable-integration (VLSI) techniques which are compatible with scaling to a larger quantum information processor. The shape of the radio-frequency (RF) electrodes is optimized with a genetic algorith...

Moving trapped-ion qubits in a microstructured array of radiofrequency traps offers a route towards realizing scalable quantum processing nodes. Establishing such nodes, providing sufficient functionality to represent a building block for emerging quantum technologies, e.g. a quantum computer or quantum repeater, remains a formidable technological challenge. In this review, we present a holistic view on such an architecture, including the relevant components, their characteri...

Minimizing the micromotion of the single trapped ion in a linear Paul trap is a tedious and time-consuming work,but is of great importance in cooling the ion into the motional ground state as well as maintaining long coherence time, which is crucial for quantum information processing and quantum computation. Here we demonstrate that systematic machine learning based on artificial neural networks can quickly and efficiently find optimal voltage settings for the electrodes usin...

A procedure to enhance the quantum--classical correspondence even in situations far from the classical limit is proposed. It is based on controlling the quantum transport between classical regions using the capability to synthesize arbitrary motional states in ion traps. Quantum barriers and passages to transport can be created selecting the relevant frequencies. This technique is then applied to stabilize the quantum motion onto classical structures or alter the dynamical tu...

Using numerical simulations of the time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation, we study the full quantum dynamics of the motion of an atomic ion in a linear Paul trap. Such a trap is based on a time-varying, periodic electric field, and hence corresponds to a time-dependent potential for the ion, which we model exactly. We compare the center of mass motion with that obtained from classical equations of motion, as well as to results based on a time-independent effective potential. ...

We propose the use of 2-dimensional Penning trap arrays as a scalable platform for quantum simulation and quantum computing with trapped atomic ions. This approach involves placing arrays of micro-structured electrodes defining static electric quadrupole sites in a magnetic field, with single ions trapped at each site and coupled to neighbors via the Coulomb interaction. We solve for the normal modes of ion motion in such arrays, and derive a generalized multi-ion invariance ...

We describe the design of a surface-electrode ion trap junction, which is a key element for large-scale ion trap arrays. A bi-objective optimization method is used for designing the electrodes, which maintains the total pseudo-potential curvature while minimizing the axial pseudo-potential gradient along the ion transport path. To facilitate the laser beam delivery for parallel operations in multiple trap zones, we implemented integrated optics on each arm of this X-junction ...

We propose a scheme to investigate the nonequilibrium work distribution of a quantum particle under well controlled transformations of the external potential, exploiting the versatility of a single ion in a segmented linear Paul trap. We describe in detail how the motional quantum state of a single ion can be prepared, manipulated and finally read out to fully determine the free energy difference in both harmonic and anharmonic potentials. Uniquely to our system, we show how ...