Modular cryostat for ion trapping with surface-electrode ion traps

TL;DR

This paper introduces a cost-effective, modular cryostat designed for surface-electrode ion traps, offering extensive optical access and efficient thermal management, demonstrated by successful trapping of calcium ions with favorable performance metrics.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel, modular cryostat design optimized for ion trapping experiments, combining affordability, flexibility, and high optical access with validated trapping performance.

Findings

Effective thermal management with low stray electric fields.

Long ion lifetimes and low heating rates achieved.

Design enables rapid modifications and high optical access.

Abstract

We present a simple cryostat purpose built for use with surface-electrode ion traps, designed around an affordable, large cooling power commercial pulse tube refrigerator. A modular vacuum enclosure with a single vacuum space facilitates interior access, and enables rapid turnaround and flexiblity for future modifications. Long rectangular windows provide nearly 360 degrees of optical access in the plane of the ion trap, while a circular bottom window near the trap enables NA 0.4 light collection without the need for in-vacuum optics. We evaluate the system's mechanical and thermal characteristics, and we quantify ion trapping performance by trapping 40Ca+, finding small stray electric fields, long ion lifetimes, and low ion heating rates.