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Microfabricated Ion Trap Systems for Quantum Simulations
We have developed and tested a generation of ion traps, for the purpose of quantum information science and quantum simulations. These traps are based on semiconductor lithography, fabricated at MIT, and operated at liquid helium temperature. The traps enable systematic study of the behavior of the quantum state of trapped ions, near the surface of traps, and controlled trapping of dense two-dimensional arrays of ions. We have operated and tested many of these new surface electrode ion traps in the past year, including traps made of silver on quartz and sapphire, gold on quartz, aluminum on silicon, and niobium nitride on sapphire. Remarkably, when operated at liquid helium temperatures, these traps provide an environment which has up to three orders of magnitude lower charge fluctuation noise, as measured by motional heating of a single ultracold trapped ion, compared with traps of similar size operated at room temperature[1].