arXiv subjects

F. Schmidt-Kaler

Publications and source records attributed to F. Schmidt-Kaler.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2011

Interaction of a Laser with a Qubit in Thermal Motion and its Application to Robust and Efficient Readout

We present a detailed theoretical and experimental study on the optical control of a trapped-ion qubit subject to thermally induced fluctuations of the Rabi frequency. The coupling fluctuations are caused by thermal excitation on three harmonic oscillator modes. We develop an effective Maxwell-Boltzmann theory which leads to a replacement of several quantized oscillator modes by an effective continuous probability distribution function for the Rabi frequency. The model is experimentally verified for driving the quadrupole transition with resonant square pulses. This allows for the determination of the ion temperature with an accuracy of better than 2% of the temperature pertaining to the Doppler cooling limit TD over a range from 0.5TD to 5TD. The theory is then applied successfully to model experimental data for rapid adiabatic passage (RAP) pulses. We apply the model and the obtained experimental parameters to elu- cidate the robustness and efficiency of the RAP process by means of numerical simulations.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2011

Designing spin-spin interactions with one and two dimensional ion crystals in planar micro traps

We discuss the experimental feasibility of quantum simulation with trapped ion crystals, using magnetic field gradients. We describe a micro structured planar ion trap, which contains a central wire loop generating a strong magnetic gradient of about 20 T/m in an ion crystal held about 160 μm above the surface. On the theoretical side, we extend a proposal about spin-spin interactions via magnetic gradient induced coupling (MAGIC) [Johanning, et al, J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 42 (2009) 154009]. We describe aspects where planar ion traps promise novel physics: Spin-spin coupling strengths of transversal eigenmodes exhibit significant advantages over the coupling schemes in longitudinal direction that have been previously investigated. With a chip device and a magnetic field coil with small inductance, a resonant enhancement of magnetic spin forces through the application of alternating magnetic field gradients is proposed. Such resonantly enhanced spin-spin coupling may be used, for instance, to create Schrödinger cat states. Finally we investigate magnetic gradient interactions in two-dimensional ion crystals, and discuss frustration effects in such two-dimensional arrangements.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2011

Precision measurements in ion traps using slowly moving standing waves

The present paper describes the experimental implementation of a measuring technique employing a slowly moving, near resonant, optical standing wave in the context of trapped ions. It is used to measure several figures of merit that are important for quantum computation in ion traps and which are otherwise not easily obtainable. Our technique is shown to offer high precision, and also in many cases using a much simpler setup than what is normally used. We demonstrate here measurements of i) the distance between two crystalline ions, ii) the Lamb-Dicke parameter, iii) temperature of the ion crystal, and iv) the interferometric stability of a Raman setup. The exact distance between two ions, in units of standing wave periods, is very important for motional entangling gates, and our method offers a practical way of calibrating this distance in the typical lab situation.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2011

Rydberg excitation of trapped cold ions: A detailed case study

We provide a detailed theoretical and conceptual study of a planned experiment to excite Rydberg states of ions trapped in a Paul trap. The ultimate goal is to exploit the strong state dependent interactions between Rydberg ions to implement quantum information processing protocols and to simulate the dynamics of strongly interacting spin systems. We highlight the promises of this approach when combining the high degree of control and readout of quantum states in trapped ion crystals with the novel and fast gate schemes based on interacting giant Rydberg atomic dipole moments. We discuss anticipated theoretical and experimental challenges on the way towards its realization.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2010

Trapped electron coupled to superconducting devices

We propose to couple a trapped single electron to superconducting structures located at a variable distance from the electron. The electron is captured in a cryogenic Penning trap using electric fields and a static magnetic field in the Tesla range. Measurements on the electron will allow investigating the properties of the superconductor such as vortex structure, damping and decoherence. We propose to couple a superconducting microwave resonator to the electron in order to realize a circuit QED-like experiment, as well as to couple superconducting Josephson junctions or superconducting quantum interferometers (SQUIDs) to the electron. The electron may also be coupled to a vortex which is situated in a double well potential, realized by nearby pinning centers in the superconductor, acting as a quantum mechanical two level system that can be controlled by a transport current tilting the double well potential. When the vortex is trapped in the interferometer arms of a SQUID, this would allow its detection both by the SQUID and by the electron.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2010

Fabrication and heating rate study of microscopic surface electrode ion traps

We report heating rate measurements in a microfabricated gold-on-sapphire surface electrode ion trap with trapping height of approximately 240 micron. Using the Doppler recooling method, we characterize the trap heating rates over an extended region of the trap. The noise spectral density of the trap falls in the range of noise spectra reported in ion traps at room temperature. We find that during the first months of operation the heating rates increase by approximately one order of magnitude. The increase in heating rates is largest in the ion loading region of the trap, providing a strong hint that surface contamination plays a major role for excessive heating rates. We discuss data found in the literature and possible relation of anomalous heating to sources of noise and dissipation in other systems, namely impurity atoms adsorbed on metal surfaces and amorphous dielectrics.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2010

Fabrication of a planar micro Penning trap and numerical investigations of versatile ion positioning protocols

We describe a versatile planar Penning trap structure, which allows to dynamically modify the trapping conguration almost arbitrarily. The trap consists of 37 hexagonal electrodes, each with a circumcirle-diameter of 300 m, fabricated in a gold-on-sapphire lithographic technique. Every hexagon can be addressed individually, thus shaping the electric potential. The fabrication of such a device with clean room methods is demonstrated. We illustrate the variability of the device by a detailed numerical simulation of a lateral and a vertical transport and we simulate trapping in racetrack and articial crystal congurations. The trap may be used for ions or electrons, as a versatile container for quantum optics and quantum information experiments.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2009

Feedback-Optimized Operations with Linear Ion Crystals

We report on transport operations with linear crystals of 40Ca+ ions by applying complex electric time-dependent potentials. For their control we use the information obtained from the ions' fluorescence. We demonstrate that by means of this feedback technique, we can transport a predefined number of ions and also split and unify ion crystals. The feedback control allows for a robust scheme, compensating for experimental errors as it does not rely on a precisely known electrical modeling of the electric potentials in the ion trap beforehand. Our method allows us to generate a self-learning voltage ramp for the required process. With an experimental demonstration of a transport with more than 99.8 % success probability, this technique may facilitate the operation of a future ion based quantum processor.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2009

Coherent Manipulation of a Ca Spin Qubit in a Micro Ion Trap

We demonstrate the implementation of a spin qubit with a single Ca ion in a micro ion trap. The qubit is encoded in the Zeeman ground state levels mJ=+1/2 and mJ=-1/2 of the S1/2 state of the ion. We show sideband cooling close to the vibrational ground state and demonstrate the initialization and readout of the qubit levels with 99.5% efficiency. We employ a Raman transition close to the S1/2 - P1/2 resonance for coherent manipulation of the qubit. We observe single qubit rotations with 96% fidelity and gate times below 5mus. Rabi oscillations on the blue motional sideband are used to extract the phonon number distribution. The dynamics of this distribution is analyzed to deduce the trap-induced heating rate of 0.3(1) phonons/ms.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2009

Nuclear Charge Radii of Be-7,9,10 and the one-neutron halo nucleus Be-11

Nuclear charge radii of $^{7,9,10,11}$Be have been determined by high-precision laser spectroscopy. On-line measurements were performed with collinear laser spectroscopy in the $2s_{1/2} \to 2p_{1/2}$ transition on a beam of Be$^{+}$ ions. Collinear and anticollinear laser beams were used simultaneously and the absolute frequency determination using a frequency comb yielded an accuracy in the isotope-shift measurements of about 1 MHz. Combination with accurate calculations of the mass-dependent isotope shifts yield nuclear charge radii. The charge radius decreases from $^7$Be to $^{10}$Be and then increases for the halo nucleus $^{11}$Be. When comparing our results with predictions of {\it ab initio} nuclear structure calculations we find good agreement. Additionally, the nuclear magnetic moment of $^7$Be was determined to be $-1.3995(5)μ_{\rm N}$ and that of $^{11}$Be from a previous $β$-NMR measurement was confirmed.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2009

Deterministic Ultracold Ion Source targeting the Heisenberg Limit

The major challenges to fabricate quantum processors and future nano solid state devices are material modification techniques with nanometre resolution and suppression of statistical fluctuations of dopants or qubit carriers. Based on a segmented ion trap with mK laser cooled ions we have realized a deterministic single ion source which could operate with a huge range of sympathetically cooled ion species, isotopes or ionic molecules. We have deterministically extracted a predetermined number of ions on demand and have measured a longitudinal velocity uncertainty of 6.3m/s and a spatial beam divergence of 0.6 mrad. We show in numerical simulations that if the ions are cooled to the motional ground state (Heisenberg limit) nanometre spatial resolution can be achieved.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2008

Experimental and theoretical challenges for the trapped electron quantum computer

We discuss quantum information processing with trapped electrons. After recalling the operation principle of planar Penning traps we sketch the experimental conditions to load, cool and detect single electrons. Here we present a detailed investigation of a scalable scheme including feasibility studies and the analysis of all important elements, relevant for the experimental stage. On the theoretical side, we discuss different methods to couple electron qubits. We estimate the relevant qubit coherence times and draw implications for the experimental setting. A critical assessment of quantum information processing with trapped electrons is concluding the article.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2008

Quantum Physics Exploring Gravity in the Outer Solar System: The Sagas Project

We summarise the scientific and technological aspects of the SAGAS (Search for Anomalous Gravitation using Atomic Sensors) project, submitted to ESA in June 2007 in response to the Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 call for proposals. The proposed mission aims at flying highly sensitive atomic sensors (optical clock, cold atom accelerometer, optical link) on a Solar System escape trajectory in the 2020 to 2030 time-frame. SAGAS has numerous science objectives in fundamental physics and Solar System science, for example numerous tests of general relativity and the exploration of the Kuiper belt. The combination of highly sensitive atomic sensors and of the laser link well adapted for large distances will allow measurements with unprecedented accuracy and on scales never reached before. We present the proposed mission in some detail, with particular emphasis on the science goals and associated measurements.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2007

Transport of ions in a segmented linear Paul trap in printed-circuit-board technology

We describe the construction and operation of a segmented linear Paul trap, fabricated in printed-circuit-board technology with an electrode segment width of 500 microns. We prove the applicability of this technology to reliable ion trapping and report the observation of Doppler cooled ion crystals of Ca-40 with this kind of traps. Measured trap frequencies agree with numerical simulations at the level of a few percent from which we infer a high fabrication accuracy of the segmented trap. To demonstrate its usefulness and versatility for trapped ion experiments we study the fast transport of a single ion. Our experimental results show a success rate of 99.0(1)% for a transport distance of 2x2mm in a round-trip time of T=20us, which corresponds to 4 axial oscillations only. We theoretically and experimentally investigate the excitation of oscillations caused by fast ion transports with error-function voltage ramps: For a slightly slower transport (a round-trip shuttle within T=30us) we observe non-adiabatic motional excitation of 0.89(15)meV.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2006

Concept of deterministic single ion doping with sub-nm spatial resolution

We propose a method for deterministic implantation of single atoms into solids which relies on a linear ion trap as an ion source. Our approach allows a deterministic control of the number of implanted atoms and a spatial resolution of less than 1 nm. Furthermore, the method is expected to work for almost all hemical elements. The deterministic implantation of single phosphor or nitrogen atoms is interesting for the fabrication of scalable solid state quantum computers, in particular for silicon and diamond based schemes. A wide range of further applications is expected for the fabrication of nano and sub-nano electric devices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2005

Robust state preparation of a single trapped ion by adiabatic passage

We report adiabatic passage experiments with a single trapped $^{40}$Ca$^+$ ion. By applying a frequency chirped laser pulse with a Gaussian amplitude envelope we reach a transfer efficiency of 0.990(10) on an optical transition from the electronic ground state S$_{1/2}$ to the metastable state D$_{5/2}$. This transfer method is shown to be insensitive to the accurate setting of laser parameters, and therefore is suitable as a robust tool for ion based quantum computing.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2005

Robust entanglement

It is common belief among physicists that entangled states of quantum systems loose their coherence rather quickly. The reason is that any interaction with the environment which distinguishes between the entangled sub-systems collapses the quantum state. Here we investigate entangled states of two trapped Ca$^+$ ions and observe robust entanglement lasting for more than 20 seconds.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2004

New experimental and theoretical approach to the 3d D-level lifetimes of 40Ca+

We report measurements of the lifetimes of the 3d $^2$D$_{5/2}$ and 3d $^2$D$_{3/2}$ metastable states of a single laser-cooled $^{40}$Ca$^+$ ion in a linear Paul trap. We introduce a new measurement technique based on high-efficiency quantum state detection after coherent excitation to the D$_{5/2}$ state or incoherent shelving in the D$_{3/2}$ state, and subsequent free, unperturbed spontaneous decay. The result for the natural lifetime of the D$_{5/2}$ state of 1168(9) ms agrees excellently with the most precise published value. The lifetime of the D$_{3/2}$ state is measured with a single ion for the first time and yields 1176(11) ms which improves the statistical uncertainty of previous results by a factor of four. We compare these experimental lifetimes to high-precision ab initio all order calculations and find a very good agreement. These calculations represent an excellent test of high-precision atomic theory and will serve as a benchmark for the study of parity nonconservation in Ba$^+$ which has similar atomic structure.

physics.atom-ph↗