Trap-Integrated Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detectors with Improved RF Tolerance for Trapped-Ion Qubit State Readout

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates trap-integrated superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors with enhanced RF tolerance, enabling high-fidelity trapped-ion qubit state readout in scalable quantum computing systems.

Contribution

Introduction of grounded aluminum mirror shielding in NbTiN SNSPDs integrated into ion traps, significantly improving RF field resilience and detection efficiency.

Findings

Operated at RF potentials up to 54 V at 70 MHz

Achieved maximum detection efficiency of 68%

Enabled high-fidelity state readout in cryogenic traps

Abstract

State readout of trapped-ion qubits with trap-integrated detectors can address important challenges for scalable quantum computing, but the strong rf electric fields used for trapping can impact detector performance. Here, we report on NbTiN superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) employing grounded aluminum mirrors as electrical shielding that are integrated into linear surface-electrode rf ion traps. The shielded SNSPDs can be successfully operated at applied rf trapping potentials of up to $\mathrm{54\,V_{peak}}$ at $\mathrm{70\,MHz}$ and temperatures of up to $\mathrm{6\,K}$, with a maximum system detection efficiency of $\mathrm{68\,\%}$. This performance should be sufficient to enable parallel high-fidelity state readout of a wide range of trapped ion species in typical cryogenic apparatus.