Integrated Optical Concentrators for Selective Ion Illumination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional systems face challenges in efficiently delivering optical beams to target ions in a confinement apparatus while avoiding misalignment issues and unintended interactions, leading to insufficient power delivery or unintended ion illumination.

Innovation Solution

The use of optical concentrators to concentrate optical power into focal regions with a non-zero spatial overlap with confinement regions, enhancing intensity and stability of beam delivery, while minimizing unintended interactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If pencil beams are used to illuminate only a small portion of the system, then the ability to control which ions are illuminated is improved, but the alignment precision requirements increase and power delivery becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveselective ion illuminationVSAvoidalignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the illumination system into multiple optical concentrators, each responsible for delivering light to a specific ion location. This segmentation allows selective illumination of different ions while maintaining relaxed alignment tolerances for each individual concentrator, as the flood beam illuminates all concentrators simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces optical concentrators as intermediary elements between the flood beam source and the ions. These concentrators act as mediators that convert the broad flood illumination into focused light at specific ion locations, eliminating the need for direct precise alignment between the beam source and each ion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If pencil beams are used with small cross-sectional area, then the selectivity for target ions is improved, but the optical power delivered to target ions becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveion selection capabilityVSAvoidoptical power delivery

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple low-power flood beams into a single high-power effective beam at each ion location through the use of optical concentrators. Each concentrator collects light from a large area and concentrates it to a small focal point, merging the energy from the entire flood beam area into a focused spot that delivers sufficient power to the target ion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the intensity parameter of the optical signal by using optical concentrators to transform low-intensity flood illumination into high-intensity focused light at the ion locations. This parameter transformation allows the system to use low-power sources that are then concentrated to deliver high power at the target points

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If flood illumination is used to illuminate the entire assembly, then the alignment sensitivity is reduced, but the unintended interaction with non-target ions increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment toleranceVSAvoidunintended ion illumination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by giving each optical concentrator a specific function of concentrating light to a particular ion location. While the flood beam provides uniform illumination across the entire assembly (easy alignment), each concentrator locally concentrates the light to its designated focal point, ensuring that only the intended ion receives high-intensity illumination and preventing unintended interactions with non-target ions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

Stable and efficient delivery of high-intensity optical signals to target ions, ensuring accurate quantum state evolution with reduced sensitivity to alignment errors.

Implementation Method 1

one or more optical concentrators configured to concentrate optical power incident on the optical concentrators into focal regions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical concentration: Focusing

Data Source

PatentUS20250342980A1Flood illumination with integrated concentrators for high-extinction beam delivery

Publication Date: 2025.11.06 QUANTINUUM LLC

AI summary

A system is provided that includes a confinement apparatus configured to confine a plurality of quantum objects within one or more confinement regions; and one or more optical concentrators. Each optical concentrator of the one or more optical concentrators is configured to concentrate optical power incident thereon into a respective focal region. The respective focal region has a non-zero spatial overlap area with at least one of the one or more confinement regions. The focal region has an area that is smaller than a surface area of the optical concentrator.