Compact Penning Traps for Quantum Science with Cold Atomic Ions

Abstract

Penning ion traps are useful experimental platforms for quantum simulation, mass spectrometry, precision metrology, and molecular ion spectroscopy. The GTRI Quantum Systems Division (QSD) has developed a compact, permanent-magnet-based Penning trap that is compatible with cold ion experiments, and we have recently updated our compact trap design with printed-circuit-board electrodes and improved trap magnetic field stability. We describe some near-term applications of this system including compact atomic clocks with dual-species, three-dimensional (3D) ion crystals and demonstration of the quantum approximate optimization algorithm (QAOA) with 2D ion arrays. We also highlight other notable results from the QSD in the field of ion trap quantum information.