Surface-electrode trap with an integrated permanent magnet for generating a magnetic-field gradient at trapped ions

TL;DR

This paper presents a surface-electrode ion trap with integrated permanent magnets that generates a strong magnetic-field gradient, enabling improved quantum control for quantum simulation and gate operations.

Contribution

The authors demonstrate a novel trap design with integrated SmCo magnets producing a high magnetic-field gradient close to the ions, enhancing quantum manipulation capabilities.

Findings

Achieved a magnetic-field gradient of 36 T/m at the ion location.

Successfully measured the gradient using Zeeman splitting of $^{40}$Ca$^+$ ions.

Demonstrated potential for improved quantum simulation and gate operations.

Abstract

We report on a surface-electrode trap with SmCo magnets arranged in a quadrupole configuration underneath the trap electrode. Because the distance between the magnets and the trapped ions can be as little as several hundred micrometers, a large magnetic field is produced without any heat management. The magnetic-field gradient was measured using the Zeeman splitting of a single trapped $^{40}$Ca$^+$ ion at several positions, and a field gradient of 36 T/m was obtained. Such a field gradient is useful for the generation of a state-dependent force, which is important for quantum simulation and/or quantum gate operation using radio-frequency or microwave radiation.