Fast switching of the rf trapping field in an ion trap

Radiofrequency ion traps are essential for many experiments, ranging from quantum computing to physical chemistry and fundamental science. However, in some circumstances the trapping fields may cause undesired effects and need to be switched off briefly during operation without compromising the trap...

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Main Authors: Laura Blackburn, Amber Shepherd, Matthias Keller
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2025-01-01
Series:New Journal of Physics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/adc6b0
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author Laura Blackburn
Amber Shepherd
Matthias Keller
author_facet Laura Blackburn
Amber Shepherd
Matthias Keller
author_sort Laura Blackburn
collection DOAJ
description Radiofrequency ion traps are essential for many experiments, ranging from quantum computing to physical chemistry and fundamental science. However, in some circumstances the trapping fields may cause undesired effects and need to be switched off briefly during operation without compromising the trap stability. By employing interference in the trap resonator circuit to enable switching faster than the resonator’s natural decay, the electric field in the trap can be extinguished by $\gt$ 50 dB. We have demonstrated that it is possible to switch a linear Paul trap off for several microseconds without the loss of ^40 Ca ^+ ions, even for large three-dimensional ion crystals, and have examined the effect of the switching parameters on the ion dynamics by monitoring the fluorescence rate. We have loaded N ${\,}_2^+$ ions into a crystal of trapped calcium ions via photoionisation using this technique, demonstrating that it is also possible to capture ions despite the absence of a trapping field during the ionisation.
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spelling doaj-art-de9a0fab5ecd481d99461e91c71983002025-08-20T02:08:03ZengIOP PublishingNew Journal of Physics1367-26302025-01-0127404500110.1088/1367-2630/adc6b0Fast switching of the rf trapping field in an ion trapLaura Blackburn0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4746-7009Amber Shepherd1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8901-0701Matthias Keller2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3160-7396Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sussex , Brighton, BN1 9QH, United KingdomDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sussex , Brighton, BN1 9QH, United KingdomDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sussex , Brighton, BN1 9QH, United KingdomRadiofrequency ion traps are essential for many experiments, ranging from quantum computing to physical chemistry and fundamental science. However, in some circumstances the trapping fields may cause undesired effects and need to be switched off briefly during operation without compromising the trap stability. By employing interference in the trap resonator circuit to enable switching faster than the resonator’s natural decay, the electric field in the trap can be extinguished by $\gt$ 50 dB. We have demonstrated that it is possible to switch a linear Paul trap off for several microseconds without the loss of ^40 Ca ^+ ions, even for large three-dimensional ion crystals, and have examined the effect of the switching parameters on the ion dynamics by monitoring the fluorescence rate. We have loaded N ${\,}_2^+$ ions into a crystal of trapped calcium ions via photoionisation using this technique, demonstrating that it is also possible to capture ions despite the absence of a trapping field during the ionisation.https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/adc6b0ion trapswitchingREMPIloading
spellingShingle Laura Blackburn
Amber Shepherd
Matthias Keller
Fast switching of the rf trapping field in an ion trap
New Journal of Physics
ion trap
switching
REMPI
loading
title Fast switching of the rf trapping field in an ion trap
title_full Fast switching of the rf trapping field in an ion trap
title_fullStr Fast switching of the rf trapping field in an ion trap
title_full_unstemmed Fast switching of the rf trapping field in an ion trap
title_short Fast switching of the rf trapping field in an ion trap
title_sort fast switching of the rf trapping field in an ion trap
topic ion trap
switching
REMPI
loading
url https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/adc6b0
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