- Physical Review Journals
All JournalsPhysics Magazine

Physical Review Applied

Reuse & Permissions

It is not necessary to obtain permission to reuse this article or its components as it is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI are maintained. Please note that some figures may have been included with permission from other third parties. It is your responsibility to obtain the proper permission from the rights holder directly for these figures.

Export citation

Export citation

Choose format for download:

Download Citation
  • Open Access

Electric field distortions in surface ion traps with integrated nanophotonics

Guochun Du1,*, Elena Jordan1, and Tanja E. Mehlstäubler1,2,3

  • *Contact author: guochun.du@ptb.de
PDF

Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 064001 – Published 1 June, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/l1cn-28kv

Abstract

The integration of photonic components into surface ion traps provides a scalable approach for trapped-ion quantum computing, sensing, and metrology, enabling compact systems with enhanced stability and precision. However, the introduction of optical apertures in the trap electrodes can distort the trapping electric field. This can lead to excess micromotion and ion displacement, which degrade the performance of quantum logic operations and optical clocks. In this work, we systematically investigate the electric field distortion in a surface ion trap with integrated waveguides and grating couplers that require apertures in the surface electrode using finite element method simulations. We analyze methods to reduce these distortions by exploiting symmetries and transparent conductive oxide materials.

View figure in article

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Article Text

References (41)

  1. C. D. Bruzewicz, J. Chiaverini, R. McConnell, and J. M. Sage, Trapped-ion quantum computing: Progress and challenges, Appl. Phys. Rev. 6, 021314 (2019).
  2. R. Blatt and C. F. Roos, Quantum simulations with trapped ions, Nat. Phys. 8, 277 (2012).
  3. C. L. Degen, F. Reinhard, and P. Cappellaro, Quantum sensing, Rev. Mod. Phys. 89, 035002 (2017).
  4. V. Giovannetti, S. Lloyd, and L. Maccone, Quantum-enhanced measurements: Beating the standard quantum limit, Science 306, 1330 (2004).
  5. S. A. Moses, C. H. Baldwin, M. S. Allman, R. Ancona, L. Ascarrunz, C. Barnes, J. Bartolotta, B. Bjork, P. Blanchard, M. Bohn, J. G. Bohnet et al., A race-track trapped-ion quantum processor, Phys. Rev. X 13, 041052 (2023).
  6. I. Pogorelov, T. Feldker, Ch. D. Marciniak, L. Postler, G. Jacob, O. Krieglsteiner, V. Podlesnic, M. Meth, V. Negnevitsky, M. Stadler, B. Höfer, C. Wächter, K. Lakhmanskiy, R. Blatt, P. Schindler, and T. Monz, Compact ion-trap quantum computing demonstrator, PRX Quantum 2, 020343 (2021).
  7. A. Zesar, J. Wahl, S. C. Castro, K. Schüppert, Y. Colombe, S. Auchter, M. Glantschnig, C. Rössler, B. Lamprecht, P. Hurdax et al., in The 25th European Conference on Integrated Optics, edited by J. Witzens, J. Poon, L. Zimmermann, and W. Freude (Springer Nature Switzerland, Cham, 2024), pp. 222–229.
  8. A. S. Sotirova, B. Sun, J. D. Leppard, A. Wang, M. Wang, A. Vazquez-Brennan, D. P. Nadlinger, S. Moser, A. Jesacher, C. He et al., Low cross-talk optical addressing of trapped-ion qubits using a novel integrated photonic chip, Light: Sci. Appl. 13, 199 (2024).
  9. M. L. Day, K. Choonee, Z. Chaboyer, S. Gross, M. J. Withford, A. G. Sinclair, and G. D. Marshall, A micro-optical module for multi-wavelength addressing of trapped ions, Quantum Sci. Technol. 6, 024007 (2021).
  10. M. Ghadimi, V. Blūms, B. G. Norton, P. M. Fisher, S. C. Connell, J. M. Amini, C. Volin, H. Hayden, C.-S. Pai, D. Kielpinski et al., Scalable ion–photon quantum interface based on integrated diffractive mirrors, npj Quantum Inf. 3, 4 (2017).
  11. K. K. Mehta, C. D. Bruzewicz, R. McConnell, R. J. Ram, J. M. Sage, and J. Chiaverini, Integrated optical addressing of an ion qubit, Nat. Nanotechnol. 11, 1066 (2016).
  12. K. K. Mehta, C. Zhang, M. Malinowski, T.-L. Nguyen, M. Stadler, and J. P. Home, Integrated optical multi-ion quantum logic, Nature 586, 533 (2020).
  13. C. Mordini, A. Ricci Vasquez, Y. Motohashi, M. Müller, M. Malinowski, C. Zhang, K. K. Mehta, D. Kienzler, and J. P. Home, Multizone trapped-ion qubit control in an integrated photonics QCCD device, Phys. Rev. X 15, 011040 (2025).
  14. R. J. Niffenegger, J. Stuart, C. Sorace-Agaskar, D. Kharas, S. Bramhavar, C. D. Bruzewicz, W. Loh, R. T. Maxson, R. McConnell, D. Reens, G. N. West, J. M. Sage, and J. Chiaverini, Integrated multi-wavelength control of an ion qubit, Nature 586, 538 (2020).
  15. M. Ivory, W. J. Setzer, N. Karl, H. McGuinness, C. DeRose, M. Blain, D. Stick, M. Gehl, and L. P. Parazzoli, Integrated optical addressing of a trapped ytterbium ion, Phys. Rev. X 11, 041033 (2021).
  16. J. Kwon, W. J. Setzer, M. Gehl, N. Karl, J. Van Der Wall, R. Law, M. G. Blain, D. Stick, and H. J. McGuinness, Multi-site integrated optical addressing of trapped ions, Nat. Commun. 15, 3709 (2024).
  17. G. N. West, W. Loh, D. Kharas, C. Sorace-Agaskar, K. K. Mehta, J. Sage, J. Chiaverini, and R. J. Ram, Low-loss integrated photonics for the blue and ultraviolet regime, APL Photonics 4, 026101 (2019).
  18. W. A. P. M. Hendriks, M. Dijkstra, S. Mardani, I. Hegeman, and S. M. Garcia-Blanco, in Integrated Optics: Devices, Materials, and Technologies XXVII, edited by S. M. García-Blanco and P. Cheben, International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE, San Francisco, 2023), Vol. 12424, p. 1242402.
  19. G. J. Beck, J. P. Home, and K. K. Mehta, Grating design methodology for tailored free-space beam-forming, J. Lightwave Technol. 42, 4939 (2024).
  20. E. Jordan, M. Brinkmann, A. Didier, E. Jansson, M. Steinel, N. Huntemann, H. Shao, H. Siebeneich, C. Wunderlich, M. Johanning, and T. E. Mehlstäubler, Scalable chip-based 3D ion traps, Quantum Sci. Technol. 10, 045005 (2025).
  21. N. Podoliak, H. Takahashi, M. Keller, and P. Horak, Comparative numerical studies of ion traps with integrated optical cavities, Phys. Rev. Appl. 6, 044008 (2016).
  22. E. Kassa, S. Gao, S. Teh, D. van Dinter, and H. Takahashi, How to integrate a miniature optical cavity in a linear ion trap: Shielding dielectrics and trap symmetry, Phys. Rev. Appl. 23, 024038 (2025).
  23. D. J. Wineland, C. Monroe, W. M. Itano, D. Leibfried, B. E. King, and D. M. Meekhof, Experimental issues in coherent quantum-state manipulation of trapped atomic ions, J. Res. Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol. 103, 259 (1998).
  24. D. J. Berkeland, J. D. Miller, J. C. Bergquist, W. M. Itano, and D. J. Wineland, Minimization of ion micromotion in a Paul trap, J. Appl. Phys. 83, 5025 (1998).
  25. D. Kalincev, L. S. Dreissen, A. P. Kulosa, C.-H. Yeh, H. A. Fürst, and T. E. Mehlstäubler, Motional heating of spatially extended ion crystals, Quantum Sci. Technol. 6, 034003 (2021).
  26. R. B. Blakestad, C. Ospelkaus, A. P. VanDevender, J. M. Amini, J. Britton, D. Leibfried, and D. J. Wineland, High-fidelity transport of trapped-ion qubits through an X-junction trap array, Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 153002 (2009).
  27. J. Keller, T. Burgermeister, D. Kalincev, A. Didier, A. P. Kulosa, T. Nordmann, J. Kiethe, and T. E. Mehlstäubler, Controlling systematic frequency uncertainties at the 10−19 level in linear Coulomb crystals, Phys. Rev. A 99, 013405 (2019).
  28. D. T. C. Allcock, J. A. Sherman, D. N. Stacey, A. H. Burrell, M. J. Curtis, G. Imreh, N. M. Linke, D. J. Szwer, S. C. Webster, A. M. Steane, and D. M. Lucas, Implementation of a symmetric surface-electrode ion trap with field compensation using a modulated Raman effect, New J. Phys. 12, 053026 (2010).
  29. R. J. Epstein, S. Seidelin, D. Leibfried, J. H. Wesenberg, J. J. Bollinger, J. M. Amini, R. B. Blakestad, J. Britton, J. P. Home, W. M. Itano et al., Simplified motional heating rate measurements of trapped ions, Phys. Rev. A 76, 033411 (2007).
  30. L. Deslauriers, S. Olmschenk, D. Stick, W. K. Hensinger, J. Sterk, and C. Monroe, Scaling and suppression of anomalous heating in ion traps, Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 103007 (2006).
  31. N. Herschbach, K. Pyka, J. Keller, and T. E. Mehlstäubler, Linear Paul trap design for an optical clock with Coulomb crystals, Appl. Phys. B 107, 891 (2012).
  32. K. K. Mehta, C. Zhang, S. Miller, and J. P. Home, in Advances in Photonics of Quantum Computing, Memory, and Communication XII (SPIE, San Francisco, 2019), Vol. 10933, pp. 24–34.
  33. R. J. Bojko, J. Li, L. He, T. Baehr-Jones, M. Hochberg, and Y. Aida, Electron beam lithography writing strategies for low loss, high confinement silicon optical waveguides, J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 29, 4374 (2011).
  34. S. Y. Siew, B. Li, F. Gao, H. Y. Zheng, W. Zhang, P. Guo, S. W. Xie, A. Song, B. Dong, L. W. Luo et al., Review of silicon photonics technology and platform development, J. Lightwave Technol. 39, 4374 (2021).
  35. A. Stadler, Transparent conducting oxides—an up-to-date overview, Materials 5, 661 (2012).
  36. Z. Xing, H. M. Rivy, V. Natarajan, A. M. Kolhatkar, G. Beck, and K. K. Mehta, Rapid multi-mode trapped-ion laser cooling in a phase-stable standing wave, arXiv:2512.10900 [physics.atom-ph].
  37. W. Wang, D. Fomra, A. Agrawal, H. J. Lezec, and J. W. Britton, Can TCOs transform cavity-QED? arXiv:2506.02501 [quant-ph].
  38. S. X. Wang, G. Hao Low, N. S. Lachenmyer, Y. Ge, P. F. Herskind, and I. L. Chuang, Laser-induced charging of microfabricated ion traps, J. Appl. Phys. 110, 104901 (2011).
  39. F. R. Ong, K. Schüppert, P. Jobez, M. Teller, B. Ames, D. A. Fioretto, K. Friebe, M. Lee, Y. Colombe, R. Blatt, and T. E. Northup, Probing surface charge densities on optical fibers with a trapped ion, New J. Phys. 22, 063018 (2020).
  40. E. Jansson, V. Scheuer, E. Jordan, K. Kostourou, and T. E. Mehlstäubler, Indium tin oxide combined with anti-reflective coatings with high transmittance for wavelengths <400 nm, Appl. Opt. 64, 1715 (2025).
  41. D. F. James, Quantum dynamics of cold trapped ions with application to quantum computation, Tech. Rep. (1997).

Outline

Information

Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 064001– Published 1 June, 2026
  • Received 21 October 2025
  • Revised 25 March 2026
  • Accepted 28 April 2026
Crossmark - Check for updates button
Creative Commons Logo

Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.

Published by the American Physical Society

Sign In to Your Journals Account

Filter

Filter

Article Lookup

Enter a citation