Vibrationally Isolated Cryogenic Shield for Trapped-Ion Vacuum Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Generating regions of extreme high vacuum (XHV) or near-XHV in quantum information processing systems that rely on trapped ion technology is challenging due to outgassing of chamber materials, which limits ion lifetimes and affects the quality of quantum operations.
Innovation Solution
A vibrationally isolated cryogenic cold finger coated with high surface area cryogenic sorption material is used to create a localized region of XHV or near-XHV by acting as a cryogenic pump, ensuring that outgassing materials are pumped before reaching the critical volume around the ion trap.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cryogenic operations are used to reduce outgassing pressures and provide pumping of materials, then vacuum quality is improved, but vibration is introduced from piston motion or cryogen flow/boiling
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the vacuum chamber into two distinct regions: a cryogenic region with the cold finger for pumping outgassing materials, and a warm region containing the ion trap free from vibration. This segmentation allows each region to have optimized conditions for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies cryogenic conditions locally only where needed for vacuum pumping (at the cold finger), while maintaining room temperature conditions in the ion trap region. This local application of cryogenic cooling provides vacuum quality improvement without subjecting the entire system to vibration and cold temperatures.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the cold finger is mechanically connected to the chamber for structural support, then stability is improved, but vibration is transmitted to the critical volume
Solution Approach 1:
A vibration isolation mechanism serves as an intermediary element between the cold finger and the vacuum chamber. This intermediary allows mechanical support while filtering out vibration, transmitting only minimal mechanical forces to the critical volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical connection is designed with asymmetric properties: it provides strong structural support in static conditions but exhibits high compliance and vibration damping in dynamic conditions. The connection allows vibration isolation while maintaining structural integrity.
3Reliability
If cryogenic temperatures are applied to the entire chamber, then outgassing is reduced, but connectivity of devices and components is limited
Solution Approach 1:
Cryogenic conditions are applied locally only to the cold finger where vacuum pumping is needed, while the rest of the chamber and ion trap components remain at room temperature. This allows full connectivity and operation of devices without cryogenic constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the chamber into a cryogenic zone (cold finger) and a warm zone (ion trap and surrounding components). This segmentation enables the cryogenic region to perform vacuum pumping while the warm region maintains full device connectivity and operational versatility.
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
This solution effectively increases ion lifetimes by maintaining a high-quality vacuum environment, reducing the impact of outgassing on quantum operations, and minimizing vibrations from the cryogenic system.
Implementation Method 1
A vibrationally isolated cryogenic cold finger coated with high surface area cryogenic sorption material is used to create a localized region of XHV or near-XHV by acting as a cryogenic pump
Implementation Method 2
Cooling chambers to cryogenic temperatures (e.g., 4K) may greatly reduce the outgassing pressures of the materials
Implementation Method 3
minimizing vibrations from the cryogenic system
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure describes various aspects of a vibrationally isolated cryogenic shield for local high-quality vacuum. More specifically, the disclosure describes a cryogenic vacuum system replicated in a small volume in a mostly room temperature ultra-high vacuum (UHV) system by capping the volume with a suspended cryogenic cold finger coated with a high surface area sorption material to produce a localized extreme high vacuum (XHV) or near-XHV region. The system is designed to ensure that all paths from outgassing materials to the control volume, including multiple bounce paths off other warm surfaces, require at least one bounce off of the high surface area sorption material on the cold finger. The outgassing materials can therefore be pumped before reaching the control volume. To minimize vibrations, the cold finger is only loosely, mechanically connected to the rest of the chamber, and the isolated along with the cryogenic system via soft vacuum bellows.