Integrated multi-wavelength control of an ion qubit.

Monolithic integration of control technologies for atomic systems is a promising route to the development of quantum computers and portable quantum sensors1-4. Trapped atomic ions form the basis of high-fidelity quantum information processors5,6 and high-accuracy optical clocks7. However, current implementations rely on free-space optics for ion control, which limits their portability and scalability. Here we demonstrate a surface-electrode ion-trap chip8,9 using integrated waveguides and grating couplers, which delivers all the wavelengths of light required for ionization, cooling, coherent operations and quantum state preparation and detection of Sr+ qubits. Laser light from violet to infrared is coupled onto the chip via an optical-fibre array, creating an inherently stable optical path, which we use to demonstrate qubit coherence that is resilient to platform vibrations. This demonstration of CMOS-compatible integrated photonic surface-trap fabrication, robust packaging and enhanced qubit coherence is a key advance in the development of portable trapped-ion quantum sensors and clocks, providing a way towards the complete, individual control of larger numbers of ions in quantum information processing systems.

Citation

R J Niffenegger, J Stuart, C Sorace-Agaskar, D Kharas, S Bramhavar, C D Bruzewicz, W Loh, R T Maxson, R McConnell, D Reens, G N West, J M Sage, J Chiaverini. Integrated multi-wavelength control of an ion qubit. Nature. 2020 Oct;586(7830):538-542

PMID: 33087912

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