Active impedance matching of a cryogenic radio frequency resonator for ion traps

authored by: M. Schubert, L. Kilzer, T. Dubielzig, Meinhard Schilling, C. Ospelkaus, B. Hampel
Abstract: A combination of direct current (DC) fields and high amplitude radio frequency (RF) fields is necessary to trap ions in a Paul trap. Such high electric RF fields are usually reached with the help of a resonator in close proximity to the ion trap. Ion trap based quantum computers profit from good vacuum conditions and low heating rates that cryogenic environments provide. However, an impedance matching network between the resonator and its RF source is necessary, as an unmatched resonator would require higher input power due to power reflection. The reflected power would not contribute to the RF trapping potential, and the losses in the cable induce additional heat into the system. The electrical properties of the matching network components change during cooling, and a cryogenic setup usually prohibits physical access to integrated components while the experiment is running. This circumstance leads to either several cooling cycles to improve the matching at cryogenic temperatures or the operation of poorly matched resonators. In this work, we demonstrate an RF resonator that is actively matched to the wave impedance of coaxial cables and the signal source. The active part of the matching circuit consists of a varactor diode array. Its capacitance depends on the DC voltage applied from outside the cryostat. We present measurements of the power reflection, the Q-factor, and higher harmonic signals resulting from the nonlinearity of the varactor diodes. The RF resonator is tested in a cryostat at room temperature and cryogenic temperatures, down to 4.3 K. A superior impedance matching for different ion traps can be achieved with this type of resonator.
Organisation(s): Institute of Quantum Optics
QuantumFrontiers
External Organisation(s): Technische Universität Braunschweig
Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt PTB
Type: Article
Journal: Review of scientific instruments
Volume: 93
ISSN: 0034-6748
Publication date: 09.2022
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Instrumentation
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0097583 (Access: Open)

BibTeX

@article{12a3fc42c9db4d6bb258a7b49ed50fa4,
title = "Active impedance matching of a cryogenic radio frequency resonator for ion traps",
abstract = "A combination of direct current (DC) fields and high amplitude radio frequency (RF) fields is necessary to trap ions in a Paul trap. Such high electric RF fields are usually reached with the help of a resonator in close proximity to the ion trap. Ion trap based quantum computers profit from good vacuum conditions and low heating rates that cryogenic environments provide. However, an impedance matching network between the resonator and its RF source is necessary, as an unmatched resonator would require higher input power due to power reflection. The reflected power would not contribute to the RF trapping potential, and the losses in the cable induce additional heat into the system. The electrical properties of the matching network components change during cooling, and a cryogenic setup usually prohibits physical access to integrated components while the experiment is running. This circumstance leads to either several cooling cycles to improve the matching at cryogenic temperatures or the operation of poorly matched resonators. In this work, we demonstrate an RF resonator that is actively matched to the wave impedance of coaxial cables and the signal source. The active part of the matching circuit consists of a varactor diode array. Its capacitance depends on the DC voltage applied from outside the cryostat. We present measurements of the power reflection, the Q-factor, and higher harmonic signals resulting from the nonlinearity of the varactor diodes. The RF resonator is tested in a cryostat at room temperature and cryogenic temperatures, down to 4.3 K. A superior impedance matching for different ion traps can be achieved with this type of resonator.",
author = "M. Schubert and L. Kilzer and T. Dubielzig and Meinhard Schilling and C. Ospelkaus and B. Hampel",
note = "Funding Information: We gratefully acknowledge the support by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Germany{\textquoteright}s Excellence Strategy – EXC-2123 Quantum Frontiers – 390837967, the Volkswagen Foundation and the Ministry of Science and Culture of Lower Saxony through “Quantum Valley Lower Saxony Q1” (QVLS-Q1), the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) through the “ATIQ” project, the Braunschweig International Graduate School of Metrology – B-IGSM, and the Laboratory for Emerging Nanometrology(LENA).",
year = "2022",
month = sep,
doi = "10.1063/5.0097583",
language = "English",
volume = "93",
journal = "Review of scientific instruments",
issn = "0034-6748",
publisher = "American Institute of Physics",
number = "9",
}