Phase-locked laser system for a metastable states qubit in ^40Ca^+

Abstract

We describe the development of a phase-locked laser system tailored to an ion-trap-based quantum information processor with (40)Ca(+). Laser outputs from an extended cavity diode laser and a Ti:sapphire laser with output laser wavelengths of approximately 850 and 854 nm, respectively, were phase locked and used to excite a Raman transition between the D(3/2) and D(5/2) metastable states qubit. Development and the performance of the laser system are described. We also compare the characteristics and the benefits of the developed qubit coupling with those in the conventional approaches.