NIST researchers have developed a new racetrack ion trap that could be a key component in building practical quantum computers. The trap, made of a gold-coated quartz wafer, features 150 work zones where quantum bits (qubits) could be stored and manipulated using electric fields and laser beams. This modular design allows for easy scaling and rapid development of traps tailored to individual experiments.
The racetrack trap is a significant advancement in ion trapping technology, as it demonstrates the use of a basic component library that can be quickly assembled to form structures optimized for specific experiments. NIST scientists are continuing to develop the racetrack ion trap as well as other designs, with funding from the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity and the Office of Naval Research.
The potential impact of this technology is substantial, as quantum computers could solve certain currently intractable problems, such as breaking today’s most widely used data encryption codes. The racetrack ion trap is just one component of a potential quantum computer, but it represents a major step forward in the quest to build practical quantum computing systems.
Keywords: ion, trap, quantum, qubits, ions
