Demonstration of integrated microscale optics in surface-electrode ion traps

J. T. Merrill, C. Volin, D. W. Landgren, J. M. Amini, K. Wright, Charlie Doret, C. -S. Pai, H. Hayden, T. Killian, D. L. Faircloth, K. R. Brown, A. W. Harter, and R. E. Slusher

New Journal of Physics 13 (2011) 103005

Abstract

In ion trap quantum information processing, efficient fluorescence collection is critical for fast, high-fidelity qubit detection and ion–photon entanglement. The expected size of future many-ion processors requires scalable light collection systems. We report on the development and testing of a microfabricated surface-electrode ion trap with an integrated high-numerical aperture (NA) micromirror for fluorescence collection. When coupled to a low-NA lens, the optical system is inherently scalable to large arrays of mirrors in a single device. We demonstrate the stable trapping and transport of¬†40Ca+¬†ions over a 0.63 NA micromirror and observe a factor of 1.9 enhancement of photon collection compared to the planar region of the trap.

* denotes faculty author.

† denotes student author.