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Rapid all-optical loading of trapped ions using a miniaturized atom source

L. Versini1,*, T.F. Wohlers-Reichel1,*, C.E.J. Challoner1, T. Hinde1, A.D. Rao1, W.J. Hughes2, P. Drmota1,3, T.H. Doherty1, L.J. Stephenson3 et al.

J.A. Blackmore1,† and J.F. Goodwin1,3

  • 1Department of Physics, Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom
  • 2Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton S017 1BJ, United Kingdom
  • 3QFX Ltd., Centre for Innovation and Enterprise, Begbroke Science Park, Kidlington OX5 1PF, United Kingdom

  • *These authors contributed equally to this work.
  • †Contact author: jacob.blackmore@physics.ox.ac.uk
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Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044022 – Published 8 April, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/wq63-ptbt

Abstract

We characterize an efficient optically heated neutral atom source for ion trapping. We observe loading rates of up to 24(3)s−1 with heating powers below 85 mW, and demonstrate loading of a single ion in under 30 s with 41.4(4) mW of optical power in a room-temperature ion-trap system with an ionization probability of 1.50(5)×10−5. We calibrate a thermal model for the source’s internal temperature by imaging the fluorescence of a collimated flux of neutral calcium that effuses from the source at various optical heating powers. We show that the thermal performance of this source is mainly limited by radiative losses. We explore the effect of second-stage photoionization laser power on the loading rate, and identify a path beyond the loading rates reported in this study. We predict that this source is also well suited to a wide range of metals used in ion trapping.

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Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044022– Published 8 April, 2026
  • Received 18 December 2025
  • Revised 11 February 2026
  • Accepted 23 February 2026
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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.

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