Optimized planar Penning traps for quantum-information studies

Goldman, J.; Gabrielse, Gerald

doi:10.1103/physreva.81.052335

Cited by 36 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Initially, we assume that the outermost ring electrode is grounded. With an appropriate choice of the voltages V 1 and V 2 , the electrostatic potential takes on a parabolic shape with the minimum at a distance z c /2 from the electrode surface [12]. Now we can smoothly pass from a single harmonic trap to a double-well one, by varying the potential V 3 , applied to the second ring electrode (see Fig.…”

Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We chooser2 = 4.45,zc = 5.6, V1 = −12.8 V, and V2 = −11.4 V as in Ref. [12]. For each plot we specify the value of the potential V3 applied to the second ring electrode.…”

Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To this end, we set the origin of the z axis on the surface of the lower electrode plane and introduce the dimensionless parametersz = z/r 1 ,z c = z c /r 1 andr i = r i /r 1 with i = 1, 2. Hence, the electrostatic potential can be written as [12] V…”

Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this case the distance between the two minima is L = 2 b/(2a), whereas the barrier height is E b = b 2 /(4a). We propose to realize such a double-well potential by means of a mirror-image planar Penning trap [12]. This device consists of a spatially uniform magnetic field, directed along the z axis (axial direction), superimposed to an electrostatic field produced by two planar electrode structures, identically biased and facing each other.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The major obstacle is the anharmonicity in the axial potential, which prevents the detection of a single electron. To overcome this difficulty new theoretical studies [12] have carefully analyzed the geometry of planar Penning traps, with the aim of optimizing the harmonicity of the axial potential. The results are extremely encouraging and may lead to the first experimental demonstration of a single electron in a planar Penning trap.…”

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From a single- to a double-well Penning trap

2010

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The new generation of planar Penning traps promises to be a flexible and versatile tool for quantum information studies. Here, we propose a fully controllable and reversible way to change the typical trapping harmonic potential into a double-well potential, in the axial direction. In this configuration a trapped particle can perform coherent oscillations between the two wells. The tunneling rate, which depends on the barrier height and width, can be adjusted at will by varying the potential difference applied to the trap electrodes. Most notably, tunneling rates in the range of kHz are achievable even with a trap size of the order of 100 µm.The challenging goal of using single electrons in Penning traps for quantum information [1-6] has motivated intense research towards a completely new generation of devices. The so-called planar Penning traps [7] are specifically designed to meet the demands of quantum computation, thus allowing for scalability as well as improved addressability of the trapped particles. Moreover, new pixel microstructures promise to generate complex electric potentials, suitable both for particle transport and trapping in racetrack and artificial crystal configurations [8]. The first planar Penning traps were operated in Mainz [9, 10] and in Ulm [11] both at room temperature and in a cryogenic environment. However, the elusive goal of a single trapped electron has not yet been achieved. The major obstacle is the anharmonicity in the axial potential, which prevents the detection of a single electron. To overcome this difficulty new theoretical studies [12] have carefully analyzed the geometry of planar Penning traps, with the aim of optimizing the harmonicity of the axial potential. The results are extremely encouraging and may lead to the first experimental demonstration of a single electron in a planar Penning trap.Here we demonstrate the versatility of a planar Penning trap. In fact, it is able to produce a smooth variation of the trapping axial potential from a standard harmonic well into a double well. This result is achieved by applying suitable static voltages to the trap electrodes. The experimenter can control both the barrier height and width, simply by adjusting the potential difference between the electrodes. In particular, we have simulated the behavior of an optimized mirror-image planar Penning trap, which consists of two identical sets of electrodes facing each other. An electron, initially trapped in a singlewell harmonic potential, can be adiabatically placed in a double-well potential. Depending on the energy of the axial motion, the particle wave function may spread over for several microns, through the barrier between the two wells. Therefore, the particle motional state could be prepared in a superposition of left and right, with the particle being, at the same time, in both wells. Hence, if a single electron trapped in a Penning trap forms a socalled geonium atom [13], the electron in the double-well potential can mimic a giant molecule along the lines of Ref. [14]. More...

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Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We chooser2 = 4.45,zc = 5.6, V1 = −12.8 V, and V2 = −11.4 V as in Ref. [12]. For each plot we specify the value of the potential V3 applied to the second ring electrode.…”

Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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