Controlling the operation of the confinement device using broadcasted and individualized voltage signals.

Abstract

The system includes a confinement device, an arbitrary waveform generator (AWG), and channel-specific signal processing assemblies. The application of voltage signals to each of the confinement device's multiple control electrodes is configured to cause the confinement device to confine an operable object. The AWG is operable to generate each waveform. Each signal processing assembly is configured to adjust the voltage signals applied to each electrode of the confinement device. The signal processing assembly includes a channel-specific voltage generator and an operational amplifier. The operational amplifier is configured to receive (i) a broadcasted waveform generated by the AWG and broadcast to at least two of the multiple channel-specific signal processing assemblies, and (ii) a quasi-static voltage generated by the channel-specific voltage generator. The operational amplifier is configured to output a composite signal generated by combining the broadcasted waveform and the quasi-static voltage.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross-Reference to Related Applications This application claims priority to U.S. Application No. 18 / 830,999, filed on September 11, 2024, which claims priority to U.S. Application No. 63 / 583,629, filed on September 19, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0002] Various embodiments relate to the use of broadcast and individualized voltage signals in the operation of confinement devices. For example, one exemplary embodiment relates to the use of broadcast voltage signals generated by an arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) and individualized for each channel.

Background Art

[0003] Some exemplary confinement devices are operated by applying voltage signals to respective electrodes of the confinement device. In some systems, voltage signals are generated by an AWG to take advantage of the flexibility it provides. However, AWGs tend to be physically large, technically complex, consume a significant amount of power, and have complex control requirements. Through invested effort, ingenuity, and innovation, numerous deficiencies of conventional systems and techniques have been addressed by developing solutions constructed in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, numerous examples of which are described in detail herein.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] Various embodiments provide systems and methods corresponding to operating a confinement device using voltage signals generated by a broadcasted AWG, which are individualized for various electrical channels of the system. In various embodiments, systems and / or methods are provided for operating a confinement device by applying a composite signal to the electrodes of the confinement device. Each composite signal is generated by combining a broadcasted waveform generated by the AWG with a quasi-static voltage generated by a dedicated voltage generator for each channel. For example, a dedicated signal processing assembly, including a dedicated voltage generator for each channel, may receive a broadcasted waveform generated by the AWG and a control signal generated by the system's controller and provide the respective composite signal.

[0005] In various embodiments, the confinement device is operable to confine one or more manipulable objects. In one exemplary embodiment, the confinement device is a surface ion trap, and the manipulable object is an ion. In various embodiments, the confinement device is a potential trap, an optical trap, a magnetic trap, etc., and the manipulable object is a neutral or ionic atom, a neutral molecule, a charged molecule, or a multipolar molecule, a quantum particle, a quantum dot, etc.

[0006] An exemplary system according to one exemplary embodiment includes a confinement device comprising a plurality of electrodes. The application of a voltage signal to each of the plurality of electrodes is configured to cause the confinement device to confine one or more operable objects. The exemplary system further includes one or more arbitrary waveform generators (AWGs), one or more AWGs operable to generate each of the respective waveforms, and a plurality of channel-dedicated signal processing assemblies. Each of the channel-dedicated signal processing assemblies is configured to adjust the voltage signal applied to each of the plurality of electrodes. The exemplary channel-dedicated signal processing assembly includes a channel-dedicated voltage generator and an operational amplifier. The operational amplifier is configured to receive (i) a broadcasted waveform generated by one or more AWGs and broadcast to at least two different channel-dedicated signal processing units, and (ii) a quasi-static voltage generated by the channel-dedicated voltage generator. The operational amplifier is configured to output a composite signal generated by combining the broadcasted waveform and the quasi-static voltage. The composite signal can then be provided to each of the plurality of electrodes.

[0007] According to a first aspect, a system is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the system includes a confinement device having a plurality of electrodes. The application of a voltage signal to each of the plurality of electrodes is configured to cause the confinement device to confine one or more operable objects. The system further includes one or more arbitrary waveform generators (AWGs), one or more of which are operable to generate a respective waveform. The system further includes a plurality of channel-dedicated signal processing assemblies, each of which is configured to adjust a voltage signal applied to each of the plurality of electrodes. The signal processing assembly comprises a channel-dedicated voltage generator and an operational amplifier. The operational amplifier is configured to receive (i) a broadcasted waveform generated by one or more AWGs and broadcast to at least two of the plurality of channel-dedicated signal processing assemblies, and (ii) a quasi-static voltage generated by the channel-dedicated voltage generator. The operational amplifier is configured to output a composite signal generated by combining the broadcasted waveform and the quasi-static voltage.

[0008] In one exemplary embodiment, the channel-specific voltage generator is a digital-to-analog converter (DAC).

[0009] In one exemplary embodiment, the number of AWGs in one or more AWGs is less than the number of electrodes in multiple electrodes, and the number of dedicated signal processing assemblies for multiple channels is less than or equal to the number of electrodes.

[0010] In one exemplary embodiment, the number of AWGs in one or more AWGs is less than the number of dedicated signal processing assemblies for multiple channels.

[0011] In one exemplary embodiment, the signal processing assembly includes at least one filter configured to filter the synthesized signal.

[0012] In one exemplary embodiment, the operational amplifier is configured to amplify the composite signal such that the filtered composite signal, generated by filtering the composite signal with at least one filter, has a desired amplitude.

[0013] In one exemplary embodiment, the system further includes a controller configured to control the operation of one or more AWGs and multiple channel-specific signal processing assemblies.

[0014] In one exemplary embodiment, the system further includes a plurality of calibration sensors, each calibration sensor configured to perform calibration measurements corresponding to each position in the confinement device and to provide its respective sensor signal for reception by the controller.

[0015] In an exemplary embodiment, the controller is configured to determine a quasi-static voltage to be generated by each channel-specific voltage generator based on the respective sensor signals generated and provided by one or more of the calibration sensors.

[0016] In one exemplary embodiment, the quasi-static voltage is determined based on an existing electric field or potential at a particular location in the confinement device and a desired electric field or potential at that particular location, which are determined at least in part based on the respective sensor signals.

[0017] In one exemplary embodiment, the synthesized signal is applied to each of the electrodes among a plurality of electrodes corresponding to the signal processing assembly.

[0018] In one exemplary embodiment, each of the waveforms generated by one or more AWGs is provided to a dedicated signal processing assembly for each of the multiple channels.

[0019] In an exemplary embodiment, one or more AWGs comprise a first AWG and a second AWG, and the broadcasted waveform is a switchable one of a first waveform generated by the first AWG or a second waveform generated by the second AWG, and is provided to a signal processing assembly.

[0020] In one exemplary embodiment, the system is a quantum computer based on a quantum charge-coupled device (QCCD).

[0021] In another embodiment, a method is provided for controlling the operation of a confinement device using broadcast and individualized waveforms. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes the steps of: a controller determining a desired electric field or potential at a particular location defined by the confinement device, wherein the confinement device comprises one or more electrodes; and the controller determining each quasi-static voltage to be supplied to one or more electrodes to cause the electric field or potential at the particular location to be the desired electric field or potential. The quasi-static voltage is determined at least in part on each broadcasted waveform to be supplied to one or more electrodes and the desired electric field or potential. The method further includes the steps of the controller controlling each channel-specific voltage generator of each channel-specific signal processing assembly to cause each channel-specific voltage generator to generate each quasi-static voltage. Each operational amplifier of each channel-specific signal processing assembly receives each broadcasted waveform and each quasi-static voltage and generates each composite signal based thereon. Each composite signal is applied to each electrode of one or more electrodes.

[0022] In an exemplary embodiment, the method further comprises the step of receiving one or more sensor signals, wherein the one or more sensor signals are generated by respective calibration sensors and indicate respective calibration measurements, and each of the respective calibration measurements indicates a current electric field or potential at a specific position.

[0023] In an exemplary embodiment, each respective quasi-static voltage is determined based at least in part on the current electric field or potential at the specific position.

[0024] In an exemplary embodiment, each respective channel-specific signal processing assembly comprises a respective filter configured to filter the respective combined signal before the respective combined signal is applied to the respective electrode.

[0025] In an exemplary embodiment, each respective operational amplifier is operated to amplify the respective combined signal such that the respective filtered combined signal generated by filtering the respective combined signal with the respective filter has a desired respective amplitude.

[0026] In an exemplary embodiment, each respective broadcast waveform is provided to a plurality of respective channel-specific voltage generators.

[0027] In an exemplary embodiment, each respective broadcast waveform is generated by an arbitrary waveform generator (AWG), and each respective channel-specific voltage generator is a digital-to-analog converter (DAC).

[0028] According to another aspect, a controller comprises one or more processors, a memory storing computer-executable instructions, one or more driver controller elements configured to control the operation of the respective AWG or the respective channel-dedicated voltage generator, and one or more digital-to-analog converters configured to receive sensor signals. Execution of the computer-executable instructions by the one or more processors causes the controller to perform a method comprising the steps of: determining a desired electric field or potential at a specific position defined by a confinement apparatus, wherein the confinement apparatus comprises one or more electrodes; and determining respective quasi-static voltages to be provided to the one or more electrodes to cause the electric field or potential at the specific position to become the desired electric field or potential. The quasi-static voltages are determined based at least in part on respective broadcast waveforms to be provided to the one or more electrodes and the desired electric field or potential. The method further comprises the step of controlling the respective channel-dedicated voltage generator of each respective channel-dedicated signal processing assembly to cause the respective channel-dedicated voltage generator to generate the respective quasi-static voltage. The respective operational amplifier of each respective channel-dedicated signal processing assembly receives the respective broadcast waveform and the respective quasi-static voltage, and generates a respective composite signal based thereon. Each respective composite signal is applied to a respective one of the one or more electrodes.

[0029] In an exemplary embodiment, the method further comprises the step of receiving one or more sensor signals, wherein the one or more sensor signals are generated by respective calibration sensors and indicate respective calibration measurements, and each respective calibration measurement indicates a current electric field or potential at the specific position.

[0030] In an exemplary embodiment, each respective quasi-static voltage is determined based at least in part on the current electric field or potential at the specific position.

[0031] In one exemplary embodiment, each channel-specific signal processing assembly comprises a filter configured to filter the respective composite signal before the respective composite signal is applied to the respective electrode.

[0032] In one exemplary embodiment, each operational amplifier is operated to amplify each composite signal such that each filtered composite signal, generated by filtering each composite signal by its respective filter, has the desired respective amplitude.

[0033] In one exemplary embodiment, each broadcasted waveform is provided to a plurality of dedicated voltage generators for each channel.

[0034] In one exemplary embodiment, each broadcasted waveform is generated by an arbitrary waveform generator (AWG), and each channel-specific voltage generator is a digital-to-analog converter (DAC).

[0035] A computer program product comprising at least one non-temporary storage medium for storing computer executable instructions, wherein when a computer executable instruction is executed by a processor of a controller, the controller is configured to perform a method of performing the steps of: determining a desired electric field or potential at a specific location defined by a confinement device, wherein the confinement device comprises one or more electrodes; and determining each quasi-static voltage that will be supplied to one or more electrodes to cause the electric field or potential at the specific location to be the desired electric field or potential. The quasi-static voltage is determined at least in part on each broadcasted waveform that will be supplied to one or more electrodes and the desired electric field or potential. The method further includes the step of controlling each channel-dedicated voltage generator of each channel-dedicated signal processing assembly to cause each channel-dedicated voltage generator to generate each quasi-static voltage. Each operational amplifier of each channel-dedicated signal processing assembly receives each broadcasted waveform and each quasi-static voltage and generates each composite signal based thereon. Each composite signal is applied to each electrode of one or more electrodes.

[0036] In an exemplary embodiment, the method further includes the step of receiving one or more sensor signals, the one or more sensor signals being generated by each calibration sensor and indicating each calibration measurement, and each calibration measurement indicating the current electric field or potential at a particular location.

[0037] In one exemplary embodiment, each quasi-static voltage is determined at least partially based on the current electric field or potential at a particular location.

[0038] In one exemplary embodiment, each channel-specific signal processing assembly comprises a filter configured to filter the respective composite signal before the respective composite signal is applied to the respective electrode.

[0039] In one exemplary embodiment, each operational amplifier is operated to amplify each composite signal such that each filtered composite signal, generated by filtering each composite signal by its respective filter, has the desired respective amplitude.

[0040] In one exemplary embodiment, each broadcasted waveform is provided to a plurality of dedicated voltage generators for each channel.

[0041] In one exemplary embodiment, each broadcasted waveform is generated by an arbitrary waveform generator (AWG), and each channel-specific voltage generator is a digital-to-analog converter (DAC).

[0042] Having described the present invention in general terms, we will now refer to the attached drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to a consistent scale. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0043] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary system comprising a confinement device and a combined signal voltage source according to one exemplary embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a plan view of a portion of an exemplary confinement device according to one exemplary embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram of a portion of a voltage source used to generate a voltage signal and provide it to the electrodes of a confinement device, according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram of an exemplary channel-specific signal processing assembly according to one exemplary embodiment. [Figure 5]This is a schematic diagram of an exemplary controller for a system including a confinement device and a combined signal voltage source, according to various embodiments. [Figure 6] This flowchart illustrates various processes, procedures, and / or operations performed by the controller in Figure 5 for controlling a confinement device, for example, using broadcasted and individualized waveforms, according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a schematic diagram of an exemplary computing entity of a quantum computer system that may be used according to one exemplary embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0044] Next, the present invention will be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show some, though not all, embodiments of the present invention. In practice, the present invention can be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described herein, but rather these embodiments are provided to satisfy the legal requirements to which this disclosure is applicable. The terms “or” (also indicated as “ / ”) are used herein in both an alternative and a conjunctive sense unless otherwise specified. The terms “illustrative” and “exemplary” are used to mean examples without indication of quality levels. The terms “generally,” “substantially,” and “about” mean within engineering and / or manufacturing tolerances, and / or within user measurement capabilities, unless otherwise specified. Throughout, similar numbers refer to similar elements.

[0045] In various embodiments, the system may utilize broadcast waveforms that are individualized for each channel of the system. For example, in one exemplary embodiment, the system includes a confinement device comprising multiple electrodes. For example, the confinement device may be a surface ion trap comprising multiple electrodes configured to generate at least a portion of a trapping potential, configured to confine one or more operable objects (e.g., ions, atoms, molecules, quantum particles, quantum dots, etc.) when a suitable voltage signal is applied thereto. In various embodiments, the system includes one or more arbitrary waveform generators (AWGs), each configured to generate their respective broadcast waveforms. In various embodiments, the broadcast waveform is a voltage signal that may vary over time and is provided to two or more channels of the system. Each channel of the system corresponds to a specific electrode among the multiple electrodes of the confinement device.

[0046] The system further includes multiple channel-specific signal processing assemblies. For example, each electrode of a plurality of electrodes is associated with its own channel-specific signal processing assembly. Each channel-specific signal processing assembly is configured to adjust and / or personalize the broadcasted waveform that will be supplied to the corresponding electrode. For example, each channel-specific signal processing assembly includes a channel-specific voltage generator (e.g., a digital-to-analog converter (DAC)) and a signal mixer (e.g., an operational amplifier). The signal mixer combines the broadcasted waveform that will be supplied to each electrode with a quasi-static voltage generated by the channel-specific voltage generator to generate a composite signal. The composite signal is then applied to each electrode. The quasi-static voltage signal is a voltage signal having a slower update time than the update time corresponding to one or more AWGs and / or broadcasted waveforms, such that the quasi-static voltage remains substantially constant over several update cycles of one or more AWGs and / or broadcasted waveforms.

[0047] In various systems, the flexibility of waveforms generated by AWGs may be desirable. For example, the flexibility of waveforms generated by AWGs can enable efficient and controlled transport of ions within an ion trap when the waveform is applied to the electrodes of an ion trap. For instance, AWGs offer waveform flexibility that is not possible with other voltage signal generators (e.g., DACs). However, AWGs tend to be physically large, consume considerable power, are technically complex, have complex control requirements, and are expensive. Therefore, for systems with multiple channels (e.g., multiple electrodes), having a dedicated AWG for each channel is not feasible. Thus, there is a technical challenge regarding how to generate and provide voltage signals to the system's electrodes with the required flexibility of voltage signals, without requiring channel-specific AWGs (e.g., an AWG for each electrode).

[0048] One possible solution to these technical challenges is to use a broadcasted waveform, where a waveform voltage signal is provided or broadcast to multiple electrodes. However, due to stray electric fields near the confinement device, the potentials generated at various locations in the confinement device by applying a broadcasted waveform to the electrodes may not be sufficient to perform the transport of the manipulable object confined by the confinement device with sufficient precision and / or sufficiently low noise. Therefore, even when a broadcasted waveform is used, there are technical challenges regarding how to generate and provide the voltage signal to the system's electrodes with the required flexibility of the voltage signal, without requiring channel-specific AWGs (e.g., an AWG for each electrode).

[0049] Various embodiments provide technical solutions to these technical challenges. For example, in various embodiments, for each channel (e.g., each electrode), a channel-specific signal processing assembly generates a composite signal formed by combining a broadcasted waveform with an individualized and / or channel-specific quasi-static voltage. This allows for the use of significantly less AWG than the electrodes, while still providing an individualized and / or channel-specific composite signal that will be applied to each electrode. Thus, various embodiments offer the technical advantage of requiring a relatively small amount of AWG (e.g., compared to the number of channels in the system) while still providing an individualized voltage signal for each channel.

[0050] Exemplary System Figure 1 provides a schematic diagram of an exemplary system 100 according to one exemplary embodiment. The system 100 shown in Figure 1 is a quantum computing system based on a quantum charge-coupled device (QCCD). However, various other systems including multiple channels may employ various aspects of various embodiments to suit their respective applications.

[0051] In various embodiments, the system 100 comprises a computing entity 10 and a quantum computer 110. In various embodiments, the quantum computer 110 comprises a controller 30 and a quantum processor 115, which includes a cryostat and / or vacuum chamber 40 enclosing a confinement device 120 (for example, an ion trap or other device configured to confine a manipulable object), and one or more manipulation sources 60 (for example, a laser, microwave source, etc.). For example, the cryostat and / or vacuum chamber 40 may be a temperature and / or pressure control chamber.

[0052] In one exemplary embodiment, an operating signal generated by the operating source 60 is provided inside the cryostat and / or vacuum chamber 40 (where the confinement device 120 is located) via the corresponding optical path system 66 (e.g., 66A, 66B, 66C). In various embodiments, the optical path system 66 is defined at least in part by one or more components and / or elements of the signal management system (e.g., optical fibers, free-space optics, waveguides, modulators, etc.).

[0053] In an exemplary embodiment, at least one operating source 60 is located within the cryostat and / or vacuum chamber 40. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, one or more operating sources 60 are formed and / or located at least partially on and / or within a first substrate on which a confinement device 120 is formed and / or arranged, and on a second substrate that is securely and / or controllably mounted to the confinement device 120 in the cryostat and / or vacuum chamber 40.

[0054] In an exemplary embodiment, one or more operating sources 60 may comprise one or more coherent light sources and / or one or more incoherent light sources. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, one or more operating sources 60 may comprise one or more lasers (e.g., optical lasers, microwave sources, VECSELs, VCSELs, etc.). In various embodiments, each operating source 60 is configured to generate an operating signal having a characteristic wavelength in the microwave, infrared, visible, or ultraviolet portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. In various embodiments, one or more operating sources 60 are configured to manipulate and / or induce a controlled quantum state evolution of one or more manipulable objects confined by the confinement device 120. For example, in an exemplary embodiment in which one or more operating sources 60 comprises one or more lasers, the lasers may provide one or more laser beams (e.g., as operating signals) to manipulate the cryostat and / or objects confined and / or trapped by the confinement device 120 in the vacuum chamber 40.

[0055] In various embodiments, the quantum computer 110 includes an optical collection system configured to collect and / or detect photons generated by manipulable objects and / or qubits (e.g., during qubit reading procedures and / or fluorescence detection processes). The optical collection system may comprise one or more optical elements (e.g., lenses, mirrors, waveguides, fiber optic cables, etc.) and one or more photodetectors. For example, in various embodiments, one or more optical elements are configured to direct light and / or photons generated and / or emitted by the manipulable object towards their respective photodetectors. In various embodiments, the photodetectors may be photodiodes, photomultiplier tubes, charge-coupled device (CCD) sensors, complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensors, micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) sensors, and / or other photodetectors that respond to light at the expected fluorescence wavelength of the manipulable object confined by the confinement device 120. In various embodiments, the photodetectors electronically communicate with the controller 30 via one or more A / D converters 525 (see Figure 5), etc.

[0056] In various embodiments, the quantum computer 110 comprises a voltage source 50. In various embodiments, the voltage source 50 generates and provides a voltage signal that, when applied to each electrode of the confinement device 120, causes the confinement device to generate one or more potential wells configured to confine one or more operable objects. In various embodiments, the voltage source 50 comprises one or more radio frequency (RF) drivers and / or voltage sources. In various embodiments, the voltage source 50 further comprises one or more AWGs 52 (e.g., 52A, 52B) and a plurality of channel-dedicated signal processing assemblies 54. In various embodiments, the voltage source 50 comprises the same number of channel-dedicated signal processing assemblies 54 as there are channels and / or electrodes of the confinement device 120 (e.g., the same quantity). In some embodiments, each channel is associated with and / or telecommunicates with a single electrode of the confinement device 120. In some embodiments, at least one channel is associated with and / or telecommunicates with two or more electrodes of the confinement device 120. In various embodiments, the voltage source 50 includes significantly fewer AWG 52 than the channels and / or electrodes of the confinement device 120 are present.

[0057] In various embodiments, each channel-specific signal processing assembly 54 is electrically coupled to at least one AWG 52. In various embodiments, each channel-specific signal processing assembly 54 is electrically coupled to two or more AWG 52 in a switchable manner. For example, each channel-specific signal processing assembly 54 is configured to receive a broadcasted waveform generated by a selected AWG 52 as input and to provide each electrode of the confinement device 120 with a composite signal which is an individualized and / or channel-specific version of the broadcasted waveform.

[0058] In various embodiments, the system 100 further includes calibration sensors 70. In various embodiments, the calibration sensors 70 include sensors configured to measure potential or electric field at each location of the confinement device 120. For example, each calibration sensor 70 is configured to perform calibration measurements at each location of the confinement device periodically, periodically, and / or triggered, and to provide its respective sensor signal for reception by the controller 30 (e.g., via the A / D converter 525). In various embodiments, the sensor signals generated by the calibration sensors 70 directly or indirectly provide indication of the current electric field and / or potential at each location of the confinement device 120. For example, the calibration sensors 70 enable the controller 30 to monitor the current electric field and / or potential at each location of the confinement device 120 before, during, and / or after the operation of the system 100.

[0059] In an exemplary embodiment, the calibration sensor 70 includes a photon detector (e.g., a photomultiplier tube (PMT), a charge-coupled device (CCD), a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD), and / or other photodetectors). For example, the manipulable object may be illuminated with a manipulative signal (e.g., a laser beam) characterized by a specific wavelength, polarization, etc. For example, the controller 30 may control the manipulative source 60 and the corresponding beam path system 66 to cause the manipulative signal to be incident on the manipulable object. The scattering of light from the manipulative signal from the manipulative object is influenced by the electric field at the position of the manipulative object and / or at one or more positions in front of the manipulative object. A collection optical system may be used to guide and / or direct the scattered light to the photon detector.

[0060] The photon detector of the calibration sensor 70 is configured to detect light scattered from the manipulable object. Therefore, the amount of light and / or the number of photons detected by the calibration sensor's photon detector is influenced by the electric field at the current and / or previous position of the manipulable object. The amount of light and / or the number of photons detected by the photon detector is encoded into a sensor signal generated by the photon detector and provided to the controller 30. The controller 30 can then determine a reference or indication of the electric field (for example, based on a stored function, formula, lookup table, etc.) at the current or previous position of the manipulable object.

[0061] In various embodiments, the computing entity 10 (classical and / or semiconductor-based) is configured to allow a user to provide input to the quantum computer 110 (for example, through the user interface of the computing entity 10), and to receive, view, etc., outputs from the quantum computer 110. The computing entity 10 may communicate with the controller 30 of the quantum computer 110 via one or more wired or wireless networks 20, and / or via direct wired and / or wireless communication. In an exemplary embodiment, the computing entity 10 may convert, configure, format, etc., information / data, quantum computing algorithms and / or circuits, etc., into a computing language, executable instructions, command set, etc., that the controller 30 can understand and / or implement.

[0062] In various embodiments, the controller 30 is a classical and / or semiconductor-based computing device configured to control the operation of other systems, including a voltage source 50, a cryostat system and / or vacuum system that controls temperature and pressure within the cryostat and / or vacuum chamber 40, an operating source 60, an optical system acquisition system, a calibration sensor 70, and / or controls various environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, pressure, etc.) within the cryostat and / or vacuum chamber 40, and / or manipulates and / or induces a controlled evolution of the quantum state of one or more operable objects confined by the confinement device 120. For example, the controller 30 may induce a controlled evolution of the quantum state of one or more operable objects confined by the confinement device 120 in order to execute a quantum circuit and / or algorithm. In various embodiments, the controller 30 is configured to receive and process sensor signals (generated and / or provided by the calibration sensor 70) to determine and / or characterize the current electric field and / or potential at each location in the confinement device 120. In various embodiments, at least some of the operable objects confined by the confinement device 120 are used as qubits in the quantum processor 115 of the quantum computer 110.

[0063] Exemplary confinement device In various embodiments, the containment device 120 is configured to contain one or more manipulable objects. In one exemplary embodiment, the manipulable object is an ion, and the containment device 120 is a surface ion trap or a pole ion trap. A portion of such exemplary containment device 120 is shown in Figure 2.

[0064] Figure 2 shows a plan view of a portion of an exemplary confinement device 120. The shown portion of the confinement device 120 includes radio frequency (RF) rails 122A and 122B, and three sequences of control electrodes 124A, 124B, and 124C. Each sequence of control electrodes 124 comprises a plurality of control electrodes 126.

[0065] In various embodiments, each control electrode 126 corresponds to, is associated with, and / or electrically coupled to, a channel-specific signal processing assembly 54. For example, each control electrode 126 corresponds to and / or defines a channel of the confinement device 120 and / or system 100. For example, individualized and / or channel-specific broadcast waveforms are applied to the control electrodes 126. In various embodiments, individualized and / or channel-specific broadcast waveforms are applied to the control electrodes 126 to control the position of an operable object along a linear confinement region defined by the RF rails 122A, 122B.

[0066] In various embodiments, the RF voltage source of the voltage source 50 generates and provides RF voltage signals applied to the RF rails 122A, 122B to generate pseudopotentials that define one or more linear confinement regions (e.g., a two-dimensional or three-dimensional array of one-dimensional confinement regions). The operable object 8 confined by the confinement device 120 is confined in one or more linear confinement regions.

[0067] In various embodiments, the RF rails 122A and 122B define their respective longitudinal axes 123A and 123B (at least locally). RF voltage signals applied to the RF rails 122A and 122B generate a pseudopotential having an RF null axis 125. Generally, the operable object 8 is positioned along the RF null axis 125.

[0068] The atomic object can be maintained at different locations within the confinement device 120 and / or transported between different locations within the confinement device 120 through the waveform applied to the control electrode 126. Figure 2 shows an operable object 8 maintained along the RF null axis 125 at a specific location 128. The specific location 128 is defined at least partially by the confinement device 120.

[0069] For example, in various embodiments, the confinement device 120 may be similar to the confinement devices disclosed by U.S. Patent No. 11,037,776, U.S. Patent No. 11,600,482, U.S. Application No. 17 / 533,587 filed November 23, 2021, U.S. Application No. 17 / 810,082 filed June 20, 2022, or U.S. Application No. 63 / 481,665 filed January 26, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0070] Exemplary voltage source Figure 3 shows at least a portion of an exemplary voltage source 50. For example, the voltage source includes AWGs 52A and 52B and channel-specific signal processing assemblies 54A, 54B, and 54C. Each of AWGs 52A and 52B generates its respective broadcast signals 302A and 302B. Each broadcast waveform 302A and 302B is provided to the respective channel-specific signal processing assemblies 54A, 54B, and 54C.

[0071] In various embodiments, channel-dedicated signal processing assemblies 54B are electrically connected to their respective AWGs 52A, 52B via a switch 310. Thus, the broadcasted waveform 302 provided to the channel-dedicated signal processing assembly 54B is switchable between a first broadcasted waveform 302A generated by a first AWG 52A and a second broadcasted waveform 302B generated by a second AWG 52B. In various embodiments, each channel-dedicated signal processing assembly 54 is electrically connected and / or coupled to two or more AWGs 52 in a switchable manner so that each channel-dedicated signal processing assembly 54 receives a selected broadcasted waveform 302. In one exemplary embodiment, one or more channel-dedicated signal processing assemblies 54 are electrically connected and / or coupled to their respective AWGs 52 in a non-switchable manner (for example, in a wired connection without an intervening switch 310).

[0072] The channel-specific signal processing assembly 54 receives each broadcasted waveform 302 as input, and individualizes and / or adjusts each broadcasted waveform 302 to generate and provide individualized or channel-specific broadcasted waveforms. For example, in various embodiments, the channel-specific signal processing assembly combines each broadcasted waveform 302 with a quasi-static voltage and / or other individualized and / or channel-specific voltage signals to generate a combined signal 312 (e.g., 312A, 312B, 312C). The combined signal 312 is an individualized and / or channel-specific broadcasted waveform. In other words, the combined signal 312 is a voltage signal generated by combining each broadcasted waveform 302 with channel-specific voltage and / or voltage signals. The combined signal 312 is then provided to the respective control electrodes 126 (e.g., 126A, 126B, 126C) of the confinement device 120. The application of the combined signal 312 to each control electrode 126 of the confinement device 120 causes the electric field and / or potential at one or more specific locations of the confinement device 120 to become substantially equal to the desired electric field and / or potential at each specific location.

[0073] In particular, the voltage source 50 contains fewer AWG52 than the channel-specific signal processing assemblies 54. More specifically, the voltage source 50 contains fewer AWG52 than the channels and / or control electrodes 126 of the confinement device 120. The voltage source 50 contains a channel-specific signal processing assembly corresponding to each channel and / or control electrode 126 of the confinement device 120. Therefore, the quantity of AWG52 contained in the voltage source 50 is less than the quantity of channel-specific signal processing assemblies 54 contained in the voltage source 50, and / or the quantity of channels and / or control electrodes 126 of the confinement device 120. The quantity of channel-specific signal processing assemblies 54 contained in the voltage source 50 is equal to the number of channels and / or control electrodes 126 of the confinement device 120.

[0074] In some embodiments, each channel is associated with and / or communicates with a single electrode of the confinement device 120. In some embodiments, at least one channel is associated with and / or communicates with two or more electrodes of the confinement device 120. In other words, there is a one-to-one correspondence between the channel-dedicated signal processing assembly 54 of the confinement device 120 and the channel. In some embodiments, there is a one-to-one correspondence between the channel of the confinement device 120 and the control electrode 126 of the confinement device 120, and in some embodiments, for at least one channel, there is a one-to-two or more correspondence between the channel of the confinement device 120 and the control electrode 126. For example, Figure 3 shows an exemplary embodiment in which there is a one-to-one correspondence between the channel of the confinement device and the control electrode 126. However, in another embodiment, the channel-dedicated signal processing assembly 54C communicates with electrodes 126C and 126D (not shown).

[0075] Figure 4 shows an exemplary channel-dedicated signal processing assembly 54, as well as its respective inputs and outputs. In the shown embodiment, the channel-dedicated signal processing assembly 54 includes a channel-dedicated voltage generator 402 and a mixer such as an operational amplifier 404. In various embodiments, the channel-dedicated signal processing assembly 54 further includes one or more filters 406 configured to filter the combined signal.

[0076] In various embodiments, the channel-specific voltage generator 402 is a DAC. DACs are physically smaller, less technically complex, have fewer technical control requirements, consume less power, and are less expensive than AWGs. Therefore, various embodiments allow the use of AWG52 for generating flexible waveforms (e.g., voltage signals that can evolve over time in a desired manner) with update frequencies in the MHz to GHz range, supplied to and / or broadcast to multiple channels. Various embodiments further allow the use of a channel-specific voltage generator 402 (e.g., a DAC) for generating quasi-static voltages 412 (e.g., with update frequencies in the tens of kHz range), which are used to personalize the broadcasted waveforms for use with specific channels and / or application to specific control electrodes 126.

[0077] In various embodiments, the controller 30 controls an AWG 52, which is electrically connected and / or coupled (switchably) to a channel-dedicated signal processing assembly 54, via an AWG control signal 32A. For example, the AWG 52 receives and / or processes the AWG control signal 32A, causing the AWG 52 to generate a desired waveform that is then broadcast to a plurality of channel-dedicated signal processing assemblies 54.

[0078] The controller 30 controls the channel-dedicated voltage generator 402 (e.g., DAC) to cause the channel-dedicated voltage generator 402 to generate a quasi-static voltage 412. For example, the controller 30 generates and provides a DAC control signal 32B to the channel-dedicated signal processing assembly 54 (e.g., the channel-dedicated voltage generator 402). The reception and / or processing of the DAC control signal 32B by the channel-dedicated voltage generator 402 causes the channel-dedicated voltage generator (e.g., DAC) to generate a quasi-static voltage 412. The quasi-static voltage 412 is substantially static and / or constant with respect to the broadcasted waveform 302, because the update frequency of AWG 52 is in the MHz to GHz range, and the update frequency of the channel-dedicated voltage generator 402 is in the tens of kHz range. A mixer in the channel-dedicated signal processing assembly, such as the operational amplifier 404, receives both the broadcasted waveform 302 and the quasi-static voltage 412 as inputs. A mixer (for example, an operational amplifier 404) combines the broadcasted waveform 302 and the quasi-static voltage 412 to generate a combined signal 312.

[0079] In various embodiments, a mixer (e.g., an operational amplifier 404) provides a combined signal 312 to one or more filters 406. In various embodiments, one or more filters 406 may include one or more high-pass filters, one or more low-pass filters, one or more band-pass filters, and so on. In various embodiments, one or more filters 406 may include one or more passive filters and / or one or more active filters. In one exemplary embodiment, one or more filters 406 include dynamic filters, such as those described in U.S. Patent No. 11,025,228, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. In various embodiments, one or more filters 406 are suitable filters for filtering a voltage signal for a particular application.

[0080] In various embodiments, the operational amplifier 404 is configured to amplify the combined signal 312 to drive filtering and / or other processing performed by the channel-specific signal processing assembly 54. For example, the operational amplifier 404 is configured and / or operated to amplify the combined signal 312 such that the combined signal applied to the corresponding control electrode 126 (e.g., after filtering by filter 406 and / or after any other processing of the combined signal has been performed) has a desired amplitude and / or power. For example, the operational amplifier 404 may buffer the combined signal so that after filtering by filter 406, a combined signal of the desired amplitude and / or power is applied to the corresponding control electrode 126.

[0081] Example Controller In various embodiments, the confinement device 120 is incorporated into a system (e.g., a quantum computer 110, or other atomic and / or quantum system) comprising a controller 30. In various embodiments, the controller is a classical or semiconductor-based computing device. In various embodiments, the controller 30 is configured to control various elements of the system (e.g., a quantum computer 110, or other atomic and / or quantum system). For example, in various embodiments, the controller 30 may be configured to control the operation of a voltage source 50 and an operation source 60. For example, the controller 30 may be configured to control the operation of the voltage source 50 so that it causes the voltage source 50 to generate and provide broadcast and individualized waveforms. For example, the voltage source 50 comprises one or more arbitrary waveform generators (AWGs) 52 (e.g., 52A, 52B) and a plurality of channel-dedicated signal processing assemblies 54. The controller 30 controls the operation of the AWGs 52 so that the AWGs generate respective waveforms that are broadcast to each set of channel-dedicated signal processing assemblies. Each channel-specific signal processing assembly receives a selected broadcast waveform based on its respective control signal provided by the controller 30 and individualizes the broadcast waveform. The broadcasted and individualized waveform is then applied to the respective control electrode 126 of the confinement device 120.

[0082] In various embodiments, the controller 30 is configured to control the operation of a voltage source 50, a cryostat system and / or vacuum system that controls the temperature and pressure within the cryostat and / or vacuum chamber 40, an operating source 60, a cooling system, and / or other systems that control environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity, pressure, etc.) within the cryostat and / or vacuum chamber 40, and / or other systems configured to manipulate and / or induce a controlled evolution of the quantum state of one or more operable objects confined by the confinement device 120. In various embodiments, the controller 30 may be configured to receive sensor signals from one or more optical acquisition systems and / or calibration sensors 70.

[0083] As shown in Figure 5, in various embodiments, the controller 30 may comprise various controller elements, including a processing device 505, memory 510, driver controller element 515, communication interface 520, analog-to-digital converter element 525, and so on. For example, the processing device 505 may comprise one or more processing elements, such as a programmable logic device (CPLD), microprocessor, coprocessing entity, application-specific instruction set processor (ASIP), integrated circuit, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), programmable logic array (PLA), hardware accelerator, other processing devices and / or circuits, and / or controllers. The term "circuit" may refer to an entirely hardware embodiment or a combination of hardware and computer program products. In one exemplary embodiment, the processing device 505 of the controller 30 comprises and / or communicates with a clock.

[0084] For example, memory 510 may include non-temporary memory such as volatile and / or non-volatile memory storage devices, such as one or more of the following: hard disk, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, MMC, SD memory card, memory stick, CBRAM, PRAM, FeRAM, RRAM, SONOS, racetrack memory, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, FPM DRAM, EDO DRAM, SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, DDR2 SDRAM, DDR3 SDRAM, RDRAM, RIMM, DIMM, SIMM, VRAM, cache memory, register memory, etc. In various embodiments, memory 510 may store a queue of commands and / or executable instructions (e.g., executable queue) that will be executed to cause quantum algorithms and / or circuits to be executed, qubit records corresponding to the qubits of a quantum computer (e.g., in a qubit record datastore, qubit record database, qubit record table, etc.), calibration tables, computer program code (e.g., in one or more computer languages, special controller languages, etc.), etc. In one exemplary embodiment, the execution of at least a portion of computer program code stored in memory 510 (for example, by processing device 505) causes the controller 30 to perform one or more steps, operations, processes, procedures, etc., described herein, for providing operational signals to one or more locations and / or collecting, detecting, capturing, and / or measuring instructions for emitted signals emitted by operational objects located at corresponding locations in the confinement device 120.

[0085] In various embodiments, the driver controller element 515 may include one or more drivers and / or controller elements, each configured to control one or more drivers. In various embodiments, the driver controller element 515 may comprise drivers and / or driver controllers. For example, a driver controller may be configured to operate one or more corresponding drivers according to executable instructions, commands, etc., scheduled and executed by the controller 30 (e.g., by the processing device 505). In various embodiments, the driver controller element 515 may enable the controller 30 to operate and / or control the operation of voltage sources 50 (e.g., AWG, DAC, and / or other voltage sources, and / or various other (active) components of a channel-specific signal processing assembly), operating sources 60 (e.g., laser, microwave source), cooling systems, etc. In various embodiments, the drivers may be laser drivers, vacuum component drivers, drivers for controlling the flow of current and / or voltage applied to electrodes used to maintain and / or control the trapping potential of the confinement device 120 (and / or other drivers for providing potential generation signals to the potential generation elements of the confinement device), cryostat and / or vacuum system component drivers, cooling system drivers, and the like, configured to operate one or more operating sources 60 to generate operating signals. For example, a first driver controller element 515 generates and provides an AWG control signal 32A, and a second driver controller element 515 generates and provides a DAC control signal 32B. Various other driver controller elements 515 generate and provide appropriate control signals to various other components of the quantum processor 115.

[0086] In various embodiments, the controller 30 includes means for communicating and / or receiving sensor signals from one or more photodetector components (e.g., photodetectors in an optical system acquisition system) and / or a calibration sensor 70. For example, the controller 30 may include one or more analog-to-digital converter elements 525 configured to receive signals from one or more photodetector components (e.g., photodetectors in an optical system acquisition system), a calibration sensor 70, and the like.

[0087] In various embodiments, the controller 30 may include a communication interface 520 for interfaceing with and / or communicating with the computing entity 10. For example, the controller 30 may include a communication interface 520 for receiving executable instructions, command sets, etc., from the computing entity 10 and providing the computing entity 10 with outputs received from the quantum computer 110 (e.g., from an optical system acquisition system) and / or the results of processing those outputs. In various embodiments, the computing entity 10 and the controller 30 may communicate via direct wired and / or wireless connections, and / or via one or more wired and / or wireless networks 20.

[0088] Exemplary methods for controlling the operation of a system Figure 6 provides a flowchart illustrating various processes, procedures, and operations performed by the controller 30 of system 100 to control the operation of the confinement device using individualized and / or channel-specific broadcasted waveforms. For example, in various embodiments, the memory 510 of the controller 30 may store executable instructions that, when executed by the processing device 505, cause the controller 30 to control the operation of various elements of system 100 (e.g., AWG 52, channel-specific signal processing assembly 54, etc.) (e.g., through the execution of each executable instruction by the driver controller element 515) based at least in part on sensor signals received by the controller 30 (e.g., via the A / D converter 525) and processed (e.g., via the processing device 505).

[0089] Figure 6 illustrates an example of transporting operable objects from a first position in the containment device 120 to a second position in the containment device 120, as described herein. However, the steps shown in Figure 6 may be performed by the controller 30 to perform various other operations as appropriate for the application. For example, the controller 30 may perform the steps shown in Figure 6 to maintain the operable objects in the first position in the containment device 120. In another example, the controller 30 may perform the steps shown in Figure 6 to transport the first set of operable objects from each first position in the containment device to each second position in the containment device while maintaining a second set of operable objects in a specific position in the containment device.

[0090] Starting in step 602, the controller 30 determines a desired electric field and / or potential at one or more specific locations of the confinement device 120. For example, the controller 30 includes means such as a processing device 505 and a memory 510 for determining the desired electric field and / or potential at one or more specific locations of the confinement device 120. For example, the controller 30 may be controlling the quantum processor 115 to cause the quantum processor 115 to execute a quantum circuit. The quantum circuit may indicate that a particular operable object should be moved from a first location of the confinement device to a second location of the confinement device 120. One or more specific locations may include a first location, a second location, and / or one or more locations along a route from the first location to the second location. The desired electric field and / or potential at one or more specific locations is configured to cause the operable object to move along the route from the first location to the second location. In various embodiments, the desired electric field and / or potential evolves over time over a period of time that requires the manipulable object to move the route (or part thereof) from a first position to a second position.

[0091] In step 604, the controller 30 receives sensor signals indicating each calibration measurement. For example, the controller 30 includes means such as a processing device 505, a memory 510, and an A / D converter 525 for receiving sensor signals indicating each calibration measurement.

[0092] For example, the system 100 includes one or more calibration sensors 70. In various embodiments, the calibration sensors 70 include sensors configured to measure potential or electric field at each location of the confinement device 120. For example, each calibration sensor 70 is configured to perform calibration measurements at each location of the confinement device 120 periodically, periodically, and / or triggered, and to provide its respective sensor signal for reception by the controller 30 (e.g., via the A / D converter 525). In various embodiments, the sensor signals generated by the calibration sensors 70 directly or indirectly provide indication of the current electric field and / or potential at each location of the confinement device 120. For example, the calibration sensors 70 enable the controller 30 to monitor the current electric field and / or potential at each location of the confinement device 120 before, during, and / or after the operation of the system 100.

[0093] In an exemplary embodiment, the controller 30 controls the operation of the confinement device 120 (for example, via a driver controller element 515 that controls each voltage source 50) to cause one or more operable objects to be positioned at their respective measurement locations. In an exemplary embodiment, each measurement location is a location in the confinement device 120 where the current electric field and / or potential will be measured. In an exemplary embodiment, the operable object is transported through each location in the confinement device 120 where the current electric field and / or potential will be measured en route to the measurement location. The measurement locations are defined at least in part by the confinement device 120 and / or their respective beampath systems 66.

[0094] While each manipulable object is positioned at its respective measurement location, the controller 30 controls the operation of one or more manipulative sources 60 and / or their respective beampath systems 66 to cause each manipulative signal (e.g., a laser beam characterized by a specific wavelength, polarization, etc.) to be incident on each measurement location (and each manipulative object positioned thereon). The photon detectors of each calibration sensor 70 detect and / or capture photons scattered from each manipulative object positioned at its respective measurement location. Based on the detected and / or captured photons, each photon detector generates its respective sensor signal and provides it to the controller 30. The controller 30 then receives each sensor signal and, based on each sensor signal, determines the measured or indicated electric field and / or potential at each location of the confinement device 120. For example, the controller 30 may store (recallable, classical) functions, formulas, lookup tables, etc., that the controller 30 may use to determine the measured and / or indicated electric field and / or potential at each location of the confinement device 120 based on each sensor signal.

[0095] In step 606, the controller 30 processes the sensor signal to determine and / or characterize the current electric field and / or potential at one or more specific locations. For example, the controller 30 includes means such as a processing device 505 and a memory 510 for processing the sensor signal to determine and / or characterize the current electric field and / or potential at one or more specific locations. For example, the controller 30 processes the sensor signal to determine the calibration measurement indicated thereby. Based on the calibration measurement, the controller 30 determines the current electric field and / or potential at one or more specific locations. In one exemplary embodiment, each location where the calibration sensor 70 is configured to perform a calibration measurement is one or more specific locations. In another exemplary embodiment, the controller 30 is configured to interpolate the current electric field and / or potential determined for each location based on the sensor signal to determine the current electric field and / or potential for one or more specific locations.

[0096] In step 608, the controller 30 determines the respective quasi-static voltage for each channel of the confinement device 120. For example, the controller 30 includes means such as a processing device 505 and a memory 510 for determining the quasi-static voltage for each channel of the confinement device 120. In various embodiments, the quasi-static voltage is determined at least in part on a desired electric field and / or potential at one or more specific locations. For example, the quasi-static voltage is determined and / or configured such that when the quasi-static voltage is combined with each broadcasted waveform and the resulting combined signal is applied to each control electrode 126, the electric field and / or potential at one or more specific locations becomes a desired electric field and / or potential at one or more specific locations.

[0097] In an exemplary embodiment, the quasi-static voltage is determined at least partially based on a desired electric field and / or potential at one or more specific locations and the current electric field and / or potential at one or more specific locations. For example, the quasi-static voltage may be determined at least partially based on a sensor signal received by the controller 30. For example, the sensor signal received by the controller 30 may be used to recalibrate the quasi-static voltage required for the electric field and / or potential at one or more specific locations to become the desired electric field and / or potential during the transport of an operable object along at least a portion of the route from a first location to a second location.

[0098] In various embodiments, the confinement device 120 comprises hundreds of control electrodes 126 and, consequently, hundreds of channels. The controller 30 is configured to determine the respective quasi-static voltage for each channel in fractions of a second so that the desired operation can be performed within the coherence time of the qubits of the quantum processor 115 (embodied by the operable object 8 confined by the confinement device 120).

[0099] In step 610, the controller 30 controls the operation of one or more AWGs 52 to cause the AWGs 52 to generate their respective broadcast waveforms. For example, the controller 30 includes means such as a processing device 505, a memory 510, and a driver controller element 515 for controlling the operation of one or more AWGs 52 to cause the AWGs to generate their respective broadcast waveforms. For example, the processing device 505 may cause the driver controller element 515 to generate and provide an AWG control signal 32A to each AWG. The AWG control signal 32A is configured to cause the AWG to generate their respective waveforms, which are then broadcast to a plurality of channel-dedicated signal processing assemblies 54.

[0100] In step 612, the controller 30 controls the operation of one or more channel-dedicated voltage generators 402 (e.g., DACs) to cause one or more channel-dedicated voltage generators 402 to generate their respective quasi-static voltages 412. For example, the controller 30 includes means such as a processing device 505, a memory 510, and a driver controller element 515 for controlling the operation of one or more channel-dedicated voltage generators 402 (e.g., DACs) to cause one or more channel-dedicated voltage generators to generate their respective quasi-static voltages 412. For example, the processing device 505 may cause the driver controller element 515 to generate a DAC control signal 32B and provide it to each channel-dedicated voltage generator 402. The DAC control signal 32B is configured to cause the channel-dedicated voltage generators 402 (e.g., DACs) to generate their respective quasi-static voltages 412.

[0101] Each mixer (e.g., operational amplifier 404) of each channel-specific signal processing assembly 54 receives each broadcasted waveform 302 and each quasi-static voltage 412 and generates each combined signal 312. In an exemplary embodiment, the controller 30 includes one or more driver controller elements 515 configured to control the operation of one or more operational amplifiers 404. For example, the controller 30 may control the operation of each operational amplifier 404 so that the combined signal applied to each control electrode 126 has a desired amplitude or power. For example, the controller 30 includes means such as a processing device 505, memory 510, and driver controller elements 515 for controlling the operation of each operational amplifier 404 so that the combined signal applied to each control electrode 126 has a desired amplitude or power.

[0102] In an exemplary embodiment including one or more filters 406, each filter 406 of the respective channel-specific signal processing assembly 54 filters the composite signal 312 and provides a filtered composite signal. In an exemplary embodiment including one or more filters 406, where one or more filters 406 include active filters controlled by a controller 30, in step 614, the controller 30 controls the operation of one or more active filters to cause filtering of each composite signal. For example, the controller 30 includes means such as a processing device 505, memory 510, and driver controller element 515 for controlling the operation of one or more active filters to cause desired filtering of each composite signal to be performed.

[0103] The combined signal is provided to each control electrode 126 (for example, along the respective electrical connections and / or couplings between each channel-specific signal processing assembly 54 and each control electrode 126). The application of each combined signal to each control electrode causes the desired operation to be performed. For example, continuing the above example, the application of each combined signal to each control electrode 126 causes the operable object to be transported along at least a portion of the route from a first position to a second position.

[0104] Technical advantages In various systems, the flexibility of waveforms generated by AWGs may be desirable. For example, the flexibility of waveforms generated by AWGs can enable efficient and controlled transport of ions within an ion trap when the waveform is applied to the electrodes of an ion trap. For instance, AWGs offer waveform flexibility that is not possible with other voltage signal generators (e.g., DACs). However, AWGs tend to be physically large, consume considerable power, are technically complex, have complex control requirements, and are expensive. Therefore, for systems with multiple channels (e.g., multiple electrodes), having a dedicated AWG for each channel is not feasible. Thus, there is a technical challenge regarding how to generate and provide voltage signals to the system's electrodes with the required flexibility of voltage signals, without requiring channel-specific AWGs (e.g., an AWG for each electrode).

[0105] One possible solution to these technical challenges is to use a broadcasted waveform, where a waveform voltage signal is provided or broadcast to multiple electrodes. However, due to stray electric fields near the confinement device, the potentials generated at various locations in the confinement device by applying a broadcasted waveform to the electrodes may not be sufficient to perform the transport of the manipulable object confined by the confinement device with sufficient precision and / or sufficiently low noise. Therefore, even when a broadcasted waveform is used, there are technical problems regarding how to generate and provide the voltage signal to the system's electrodes with the required flexibility of the voltage signal, without requiring channel-specific AWGs (e.g., an AWG for each electrode).

[0106] Various embodiments provide technical solutions to these technical challenges. For example, in various embodiments, for each channel (e.g., each electrode), a channel-specific signal processing assembly generates a composite signal formed by combining a broadcasted waveform with an individualized and / or channel-specific quasi-static voltage. This allows for the use of significantly less AWG than the electrodes, while still providing an individualized and / or channel-specific composite signal that will be applied to each electrode. Thus, various embodiments offer the technical advantage of requiring a relatively small amount of AWG (e.g., compared to the number of channels in the system) while still providing an individualized voltage signal for each channel.

[0107] Exemplary Computing Entity Figure 7 provides an exemplary schematic diagram representing an exemplary computing entity 10 that may be used in conjunction with embodiments of the present invention. In various embodiments, the computing entity 10 is configured to allow a user to provide input to a quantum computer 110 (for example, through a user interface of the computing entity 10) and to receive, display, analyze, and so on outputs from the quantum computer 110.

[0108] As shown in Figure 7, the computing entity 10 may include an antenna 712, a transmitter 704 (e.g., wireless), a receiver 706 (e.g., wireless), and a processing device 708 that provides signals to the transmitter 704 and receives signals from the receiver 706, respectively. The signals provided to the transmitter 704 and received from the receiver 706 may include signaling information / data according to applicable wireless system air interface standards for communicating with various entities, such as the controller 30 and other computing entities 10. In this regard, the computing entity 10 may be capable of operating with one or more air interface standards, communication protocols, modulation types, and access types. For example, the computing entity 10 may be configured to receive and / or provide communications using wired data transmission protocols such as Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), Ethernet, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), Frame Relay, Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS), or any other wired transmission protocol.Similarly, computing entity 10 supports General-Purpose Packet Radio Services (GPRS), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Code Division Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000), and CDMA2000. It can be configured to communicate over a wireless external communication network using any of the following protocols: 1X (1xRTT), Broadband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA®), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), GSM Evolution High Speed ​​Data Rate (EDGE), Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), Advanced Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), Evolution Data Optimized (EVDO), High Speed ​​Packet Access (HSPA), High Speed ​​Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi Direct, 802.16 (WiMAX), Ultra Wideband (UWB), Infrared (IR) Protocol, Near Field Communication (NFC) Protocol, Wibree, Bluetooth Protocol, Wireless Universal Serial Bus (USB) Protocol, and / or any other wireless protocol. Computing entity 10 may use such protocols and standards to communicate using Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), Domain Name System (DNS), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), HTTP over TLS / SSL / Secure, Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP), Network Time Protocol (NTP), Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), Telnet, Transport Layer Security (TLS), Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), Internet Protocol (IP), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Datagram Congestion Control Protocol (DCCP), Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP), Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), etc.

[0109] Through these communication standards and protocols, computing entity 10 can communicate with various other entities using concepts such as unstructured add-on service information / data (USSD), short message service (SMS), multimedia messaging service (MMS), dual-tone multi-frequency signaling (DTMF), and / or subscriber identification module dialer (SIM dialer). Computing entity 10 can also download changes, add-ons, and updates to, for example, its firmware, software (including executable instructions, applications, program modules, etc.), and operating system.

[0110] For example, the processing device 708 may comprise one or more processing elements, such as a programmable logic device (CPLD), microprocessor, coprocessing entity, application-specific instruction set processor (ASIP), integrated circuit, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), programmable logic array (PLA), hardware accelerator, other processing devices and / or circuits, and / or controllers. The term "circuit" may refer to an entirely hardware embodiment or a combination of hardware and computer program products.

[0111] In various embodiments, the computing entity 10 may include a network interface 720 for interfaceing with and / or communicating with the controller 30, for example, via one or more wired and / or wireless networks. For example, the computing entity 10 may include a network interface 720 for providing executable instructions, command sets, etc., for reception by the controller 30, and / or for receiving outputs provided by the quantum computer 110, and / or the results of processing the outputs. In various embodiments, the computing entity 10 and the controller 30 may communicate via direct wired and / or wireless connections, and / or via one or more wired and / or wireless networks 20.

[0112] The computing entity 10 may also include a user interface device comprising one or more user input / output interfaces (for example, a display 716 and / or speaker / speaker driver coupled to the processing device 708, as well as a touchscreen, keyboard, mouse, and / or microphone coupled to the processing device 708). For example, a user output interface may be configured to provide applications, browsers, user interfaces, interfaces, dashboards, screens, web pages, pages, and / or similar words used herein interchangeably, running on and / or accessible through the computing entity 10, in order to trigger the display or audible presentation of information / data, and for interaction with it via one or more user input interfaces. A user input interface may comprise any of several devices that enable the computing entity 10 to receive data, such as a keypad 718 (hard or soft), a touch display, a voice / speech or motion interface, a scanner, a reader, or other input device. In embodiments including a keypad 718, the keypad 718 may include (or trigger the display of) conventional numeric keys (0-9) and associated keys (#, *), as well as other keys used to operate the computing entity 10, and may include a set of keys that can be activated to provide a full set of alphabetic keys or a full set of alphanumeric keys. In addition to providing input, the user input interface may be used to activate or deactivate several functions, such as a screen saver and / or sleep mode. Through such input, the computing entity 10 can collect information / data, user interaction / input, etc.

[0113] The computing entity 10 may also include volatile memory or memory 722 and / or non-volatile memory or memory 724, which may be embedded and / or removable. For example, non-volatile memory may be ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, MMC, SD memory card, memory stick, CBRAM, PRAM, FeRAM, RRAM, SONOS, racetrack memory, etc. Volatile memory may be RAM, DRAM, SRAM, FPM DRAM, EDO DRAM, SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, DDR2 SDRAM, DDR3 SDRAM, RDRAM, RIMM, DIMM, SIMM, VRAM, cache memory, register memory, etc. The volatile and non-volatile memory or memory may store databases, database instances, database management system entities, data, applications, programs, program modules, scripts, source code, object code, bytecode, compiled code, interpreted code, machine code, executable instructions, etc., in order to implement the functions of the computing entity 10.

[0114] conclusion Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention described herein will be conceivable to those skilled in the art, who benefit from the teachings presented in the above description and the accompanying drawings. It should therefore be understood that the invention should not be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and other embodiments are included within the scope of the appended claims. Certain terms are used herein, but they are used only in a general and descriptive sense, and not for limitation. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0115] 8. Manipulable Objects 10 Computing Entities 20. Wired or wireless network, wired and / or wireless network 30 controllers 32A AWG control signal 32B DAC control signal 40 Cryostat and / or vacuum chamber 50 Voltage source 52 AWG 52A AWG, 1st AWG 52B AWG, the second AWG Dedicated signal processing assemblies for 54, 54A, 54B, and 54C channels 60 Operation source 66 Optical path systems, beam path systems 66A, 66B, 66C Optical Path System 70 Calibration Sensors 100 Systems 110 Quantum Computers 115 Quantum Processors 120 Confinement device 122A, 122B Radio Frequency (RF) Rail, RF Rail 123A, 123B Longitudinal axis Sequence of control electrodes 124, 124A, 124B, 124C 125 RF Null Axis 126, 126A, 126B control electrodes 126C control electrode, electrode 126D electrode 128 Specific location 302 Broadcast waveform 302A Broadcast signal, broadcast waveform, first broadcast waveform 302B broadcast signal, broadcast waveform, second broadcast waveform 310 Switch 312, 312A, 312B, 312C composite signal 402-channel dedicated voltage generator 404 Operational Amplifier 406 filter 412 Quasi-static voltage 505 Processing Devices 510 memory 515 Driver controller element, first driver controller element, second driver controller element 520 Communication Interfaces 525 A / D converter, analog-to-digital converter element 704 Transmitter 706 Receiver 708 Processing Devices 712 Antenna 716 displays 718 Keypad 720 Network Interfaces 722 Volatile storage device or memory 724 Non-volatile storage device or memory

Claims

1. A confinement device comprising a plurality of electrodes, wherein the application of a voltage signal to each of the plurality of electrodes is configured to cause the confinement device to confine one or more operable objects, One or more arbitrary waveform generators (AWGs), wherein each of the AWGs is capable of generating its own waveform, A plurality of channel-dedicated signal processing assemblies, wherein each of the plurality of channel-dedicated signal processing assemblies is configured to adjust the voltage signal applied to each of the plurality of electrodes, and the signal processing assembly is configured Channel-specific voltage generator, Operational amplifier and Equipped with, The operational amplifier is configured to receive (i) a broadcasted waveform generated by one or more AWGs and (b) broadcast to at least two of the plurality of channel-dedicated signal processing assemblies, and (ii) a quasi-static voltage generated by the channel-dedicated voltage generator. Multiple channel-specific signal processing assemblies are configured to output a composite signal generated by combining the broadcasted waveform and the quasi-static voltage, respectively, of the operational amplifier. A system equipped with these features.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the channel-specific voltage generator is a digital-to-analog converter (DAC).

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the number of AWGs in the one or more AWGs is less than the number of the plurality of channel-dedicated signal processing assemblies.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing assembly comprises at least one filter configured to filter the composite signal.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the operational amplifier is configured to amplify the composite signal such that the filtered composite signal, generated by filtering the composite signal by the at least one filter, has a desired amplitude.

6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to control the operation of the one or more AWGs and the plurality of channel-specific signal processing assemblies.

7. The system according to claim 6, further comprising a plurality of calibration sensors, each calibration sensor configured to perform calibration measurements corresponding to each position of the confinement device and to provide its respective sensor signal for reception by the controller.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to determine the quasi-static voltage to be generated by each channel-specific voltage generator based on the respective sensor signals generated and provided by one or more of the plurality of calibration sensors.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the quasi-static voltage is determined based on an existing electric field or potential at a specific location of the confinement device and a desired electric field or potential at the specific location, which is determined at least in part based on the respective sensor signals.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the synthesized signal is applied to each of the electrodes among the plurality of electrodes corresponding to the signal processing assembly.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of the waveforms generated by the one or more AWGs is provided to each of the plurality of channel-specific signal processing assemblies.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more AWGs comprises a first AWG and a second AWG, and the broadcasted waveform is a switchable one of a first waveform generated by the first AWG or a second waveform generated by the second AWG, and is provided to the signal processing assembly.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is a quantum computer based on a quantum charge-coupled device (QCCD).

14. A step of determining a desired electric field or potential at a specific location defined by a confinement device using a controller, wherein the confinement device comprises one or more electrodes; A step of determining a quasi-static voltage to be supplied to one or more electrodes by the controller to cause the electric field or potential at a particular location to become the desired electric field or potential, wherein the quasi-static voltage is determined at least in part on the broadcasted waveform to be supplied to the one or more electrodes and the desired electric field or potential. The steps include: controlling each channel-specific voltage generator of each channel-specific signal processing assembly with the controller to cause each channel-specific voltage generator to generate the respective quasi-static voltages, wherein each operational amplifier of each channel-specific signal processing assembly receives the respective broadcasted waveform and the respective quasi-static voltage, generates a respective composite signal based on the respective broadcasted waveform and the respective quasi-static voltage, and applies the respective composite signal to each of the one or more electrodes; A method that includes this.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of receiving one or more sensor signals, the one or more sensor signals being generated by each calibration sensor and indicating each calibration measurement, and each calibration measurement indicating the current electric field or potential at the particular location.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein each of the quasi-static voltages is determined at least in part on the current electric field or potential at the particular location.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein each channel-specific signal processing assembly comprises a filter configured to filter the respective composite signal before the respective composite signal is applied to the respective electrode.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein each operational amplifier is operated to amplify each of the combined signals such that each filtered combined signal, generated by filtering each of the combined signals by each of the filters, has a desired amplitude.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein each of the broadcasted waveforms is provided to a plurality of dedicated voltage generators for each of the channels.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein each of the broadcasted waveforms is generated by an arbitrary waveform generator (AWG), and each of the channel-specific voltage generators is a digital-to-analog converter (DAC).

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