Fabrication of Sealed UHV Glass Enclosures Designed for Ion Trapping and Quantum Computing

Over the last decade, several leading research institutions have shown that arrays of trapped ions offer a clear pathway to construct powerful quantum computers as well as quantum sensors and quantum simulators). However, use of ion traps for quantum computing is at present, severely restricted by the complexity of the equipment needed to manipulate the trapped ions and maintain a favorable operating environment. To make the jump from laboratory demonstrations to a practical quantum computer, the required ancillary infrastructure vacuum and optical systems) needs to be miniaturized, integrated, hardened, and generally simplified. We will develop a femtosecond laser-based welding process, which will be used to fabricate permanently sealed, non-magnetic, evacuated fused silica enclosures designed for trapped-ion quantum computing and quantum simulation. These sealed glass enclosures will be equipped with an internal cryosorption pump capable of maintaining ultrahigh vacuum UHV) over prolonged periods. An ion trap, or an array of traps, will be inserted inside the glass enclosure prior to its sealing. A critical aspect of our proposal is that the proposed sealing procedure is a room-temperature process that will not affect the functional integrity of the ion traps). The combination of a UHV-sealing and internal cryosorption pump will eliminate the need for the large UHV systems chamber, pumps, valves, gauges, etc.) that are presently required in all ion-trapping set-ups. In addition, this approach will provide much more extensive optical access to the ions than what is presently the norm. This will significantly ease the constraints associated with the optical manipulation of the ions, further simplifying the development of quantum computers. Quantum computers will provide us with capabilities to simulate nature and chemistry that we have never had before. They will be able to speed the development of new materials and drugs Materials calculations are the second-largest use of the Department of Energy’s National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center). These developments will be associated with significant short, medium, and long-term opportunities for new businesses and job creation.