Ion Surface Trap Electrode With Integrated Superconducting Photon Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Detecting fluorescence radiation emitted by trapped ions is complex due to the need for photons to traverse optical elements, leading to high absorption probabilities and limited detection angles.
Innovation Solution
An ion surface trap with an energy-sensitive superconducting sensor having a superconducting layer-separator-superconducting layer structure, where at least one superconducting layer forms a trap electrode, allowing direct photon detection without optical elements and covering a wide solid angle range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If photons traverse optical elements for detection, then detection can be performed with conventional sensors, but photon absorption probability increases and detection angle is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sensor directly with the trap electrode structure, creating an integrated detector where the electrode itself serves as the photon-sensitive element. This eliminates separate optical elements and reduces the detection path, thereby decreasing photon absorption while maintaining reliable detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates intermediate optical elements from the detection path. By using the trap electrode directly as the sensor, it removes lenses, windows, and other optical components that would otherwise absorb photons and limit detection angles.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional sensors are used with optical elements, then detection setup is simpler, but detection angle range is limited and absorption losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor and trap electrode are merged into a single integrated structure, eliminating the need for separate optical alignment components. This integration maintains ease of manufacture while improving detection precision by reducing absorption losses and expanding the effective detection solid angle.
3Productivity
If photons travel through optical elements, then conventional detection systems can be used, but absorption probability increases reducing detection efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts photons from the traditional optical path and detects them directly at the trap electrode location. This eliminates intermediate transmission through optical elements, reducing absorption losses and improving overall detection efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
By merging the detection function into the trap electrode itself, the system minimizes the photon travel distance and eliminates optical element absorption, thereby improving productivity through enhanced detection efficiency while reducing energy loss.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances detection efficiency by minimizing photon absorption and enabling a larger detection angle, facilitating higher integration density and simplified manufacturing.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor (18) for detecting photons (20) emitted by at least one ion (22)
Implementation Method 2
an energy-sensitive measuring superconductor sensor (18) having a superconducting layer-separator-superconducting layer structure
Implementation Method 3
confine one, two, or more (i.e., 3, 4, 5, ..., N) ions within a defined region of space
Implementation Method 4
Ion surface traps are often implemented on a chip... configured to form a trap volume for at least one ion when an alternating electrical voltage is applied
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
AI summary
The invention relates to an ion surface trap (10) comprising (a) an electrode pair (12) having a first trap electrode (14.1) and a second trap electrode (14.2) and configured for forming a trap volume for at least one ion (22) when an electrical AC voltage is applied, (b) at least two DC voltage electrodes (16) arranged for terminating the trap volume and/or generating an electric field enabling an ion position of an ion (22) trapped in the ion surface trap (10) to be varied relative to the ion surface trap (10), and (c) a sensor for detecting photons (20) emitted by the at least one ion (22), wherein (d) the sensor is an energy-sensitively measuring superconductor sensor (18) having a superconductor layer/separating layer/superconductor layer structure, and (e) at least the first superconductor layer (24, 28) forms the first trap electrode (14).