Abstract
In the endeavour to scale up the number of qubits in an ion-based quantum computer several groups have started to develop miniaturized ion traps for extended spatial control and manipulation of the ions. Shuttling and separation of ion strings have been the foremost issues in linear-trap arrangements and some prototypes of junctions have been demonstrated for the extension of ion motion to two dimensions (2D). While junctions require complex trap structures, small extensions to the 1D motion can be accomplished in simple linear trap arrangements. Here, control of the extended field in a planar, linear chip trap is used to shuttle ions in 2D. With this approach, the order of ions in a string is deterministically reversed. Optimized potentials are theoretically derived and simulations show that the reordering can be carried out adiabatically. The control over individual ion positions in a linear trap presents a new tool for ion-trap quantum computing. The method is also expected to work with mixed crystals of different ion species and as such could have applications for sympathetic cooling of an ion string.
Highlights
Ion traps hold great promise for realising scalable quantum computing and, in most regards, stand as the pre-eminent system for such applications [1]
To fully exploit the power of trapped-ion quantum computing, such methods must be scaled to involve many ions which can be made to interact with one another in different combinations according to the requirements of any particular algorithm [5]
While it may seem that such information may instead be passed through the quantum channel provided by the common ion motion [7], the mechanical method has the advantage that it neither depends on the electronic encoding scheme, nor relies on precise knowledge of the trap parameters
Summary
Ion traps hold great promise for realising scalable quantum computing and, in most regards, stand as the pre-eminent system for such applications [1]. One way of achieving this is to divide the traps into segments, so the ions can be moved and sorted into arbitrary arrangements [6] In such a system the ability to reorder ions within a single linear ion string is a highly valuable tool: an ion that carries quantum information may be passed from one side of an ion string to the other. The method still requires complex trap structures and rather involved electrode-voltage control to ensure low heating rates over the RF barrier. The trap geometry used [14] consists of only 5 segments (i.e. RF plus 11 independent DC electrodes) and has no junction structures In both methods the ion string is reversed by an adiabatic change of the trapping potential. Were these applied to an array of traps it might be possible to parallelise reordering of ions in multiple traps
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
