While micro-structured surface (2D) traps are seen as an important avenue for standardization and scalability, many demonstrations of high-fidelity quantum gates, multi-qubit algorithms and many-body physics simulations with medium-sized qubit numbers have been performed on somewhat larger, symmetric three-dimensional (3D) traps.

3D traps can be, and generally are, more symmetrical and larger than 2D traps. This geometry offers advantages such as low heating rates, very efficient screening from stray electric fields, deep trapping potential, and broad optical access.

This project focuses on the realization of a monolithic blade trap. While conceptually simple, blade traps (See Fig. 1) are quite powerful. They can reach easily ~1eV of trap depth allowing the storage of long chains while still maintaining some flexibility in shaping the axial trapping potential to achieve nearly uniformly spaced ion chains.

In close collaboration with our industrial partner Translume Inc., we aim to fabricate a high-precision, monolithic, three-dimensional blade trap structure out of a single block of fused silica glass. Translume uses an unusual photo-chemical processes to precision micro-machine fused silica glass in three dimensions. This trap will feature electrode segmentation, high optical access in all three directions, and, most importantly will require no assembly and fulfill the required micron-tolerances in positions of the different charge-carrying elements in all three dimensions across the entirety of the structure.