An optically heated atomic source for compact ion trap vacuum systems

Area of Science:

• Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
• Quantum Information Science
• Experimental Physics

Background:

• Ion traps are crucial for quantum computing and precision measurements.
• Efficiently loading ion traps requires a dense, controllable atomic source.
• Traditional atomic ovens often face limitations in thermal isolation and power efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and demonstrate a novel atomic oven for ion trap loading.
• To utilize optical heating for improved thermal isolation and efficiency.
• To achieve rapid and high-density atom delivery for ion trapping applications.

Main Methods:

• An atomic oven design using optical heating via a continuous-wave multimode diode laser.
• Measurement of atom flux and characterization of oven performance.
• Calculation of required laser power for a target number density.

Main Results:

• Achieved a target number density of 100 cm^-3 with 175(10) mW of laser power.
• Demonstrated a rapid turn-on time of 15 seconds.
• Indicated potential for a 1000x smaller oven volume for decades of operation.

Conclusions:

• The optically heated atomic oven is a highly efficient and compact solution for ion trap loading.
• This design offers superior thermal isolation compared to traditional Joule-heated ovens.
• The technology is suitable for rapid ion loading in quantum technologies and other applications.