Motional squeezing for trapped ion transport and separation

TL;DR

This paper introduces a theoretical framework using motional squeezing for efficient ion transport and separation in quantum computing, enabling operations with minimal residual motional excitation.

Contribution

It develops a new protocol based on motional squeezing and displacement operators for ion manipulation, applicable to harmonic potentials, improving quantum ion operations.

Findings

Motional squeezing enables transfer of ion wave packets between potentials.

The protocol achieves ion separation and merging with minimal motional excitation.

Framework applies to harmonic potentials during ion operations.

Abstract

Transport, separation, and merging of trapped ion crystals are essential operations for most large-scale quantum computing architectures. In this work, we develop a theoretical framework that describes the dynamics of ions in time-varying potentials with a motional squeeze operator, followed by a motional displacement operator. Using this framework, we develop a new, general protocol for trapped ion transport, separation, and merging. We show that motional squeezing can prepare an ion wave packet to enable transfer from the ground state of one trapping potential to another. The framework and protocol are applicable if the potential is harmonic over the extent of the ion wave packets at all times. As illustrations, we discuss two specific operations: changing the strength of the confining potential for a single ion, and separating same-species ions with their mutual Coulomb force. Both of these operations are, ideally, free of residual motional excitation.