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arXiv · 1412.0634

Reversing Hydride Ion Formation in Quantum Information Experiments with Be$^+$

Brian C. Sawyer·Justin G. Bohnet·Joseph W. Britton·John J. Bollinger
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Abstract

We demonstrate photodissociation of BeH$^+$ ions within a Coulomb crystal of thousands of $^9$Be$^+$ ions confined in a Penning trap. Because BeH$^+$ ions are created via exothermic reactions between trapped, laser-cooled Be$^+$($^2\text{P}_{3/2}$) and background H$_2$ within the vacuum chamber, they represent a major contaminant species responsible for infidelities in large-scale trapped-ion quantum information experiments. The rotational-state-insensitive dissociation scheme described here makes use of 157 nm photons to produce Be$^+$ and H as products, thereby restoring Be$^+$ ions without the need for reloading. This technique facilitates longer experiment runtimes at a given background H$_2$ pressure, and may be adapted for removal of MgH$^+$ and AlH$^+$ impurities.

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Brian C. Sawyer, Justin G. Bohnet, Joseph W. Britton, John J. Bollinger. 2014-12-24. Reversing Hydride Ion Formation in Quantum Information Experiments with Be$^+$. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.91.011401

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