http://lqcc.ustc.edu.cn/iontrap/2026-10-03T00:00:00+08:002026-10-03T00:00:00+08:002026-10-03T00:00:00+08:00qngtag:lqcc.ustc.edu.cn,2026-10-03:/iontrap/gallery/high-optical-access-trap.html

A miniature blade trap in an all-glass cell, with high-NA optical access from four directions for precise addressing, imaging, readout and optical-tweezer control.

<html><body><h2 id="four-directions-of-high-na-optical-access">Four directions of high-NA optical access</h2> <p>Our <a href="https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0043985">high-optical-access apparatus (Review of Scientific Instruments, 2021)</a> places a miniaturized blade-electrode ion trap in an all-glass cell, opening optical paths for tightly focused control beams and fluorescence collection. The geometry supports high-numerical-aperture objectives from four directions. These objectives provide multi-directional addressing, ion imaging and quantum-state readout, allowing the optical system to be configured around the needs of each experiment.</p> <h2 id="from-precise-addressing-to-new-quantum-gates">From precise addressing to new quantum gates</h2> <p>The HOA platform supports our research on ion control with tightly focused light and optical tweezers. We used its optical access to develop <a href="https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.22.054003">low-crosstalk dual-sided Raman addressing</a>, then used the optical Magnus effect to implement <a href="https://doi.org/10.1103/w5l6-wmrl">addressed entangling gates with single-sided polarization-gradient control</a>. Together with <a href="https://doi.org/10.3788/COL202624.010201">in-situ aberration correction using an ion probe</a>, high-quality focused fields allow us to select individual qubits and couple to axial motion along an ion chain.</p> <h2 id="optical-control-of-the-crystals-motional-spectrum">Optical control of the crystal’s motional spectrum</h2> <p>The open optical geometry also allows local optical-tweezer potentials to be combined with electrical confinement. We have demonstrated optical control of an ion’s vibrational frequency and are investigating how local light fields can dynamically reshape the frequencies and spatial structure of phonon modes in a crystal. This approach aims to reduce crosstalk from unwanted motional modes and provide additional control for high-fidelity gates directly within ion crystals.</p> <p><a href="/pages/researches/trapped-ion-qip.html">Explore our trapped-ion quantum computing research →</a></p> </body></html>2026-10-03T00:00:00+08:002026-10-03T00:00:00+08:00qngtag:lqcc.ustc.edu.cn,2026-10-03:/iontrap/gallery/optical-tweezer-ion-gates.html

Tightly focused light opens new ways to address trapped ions, generate entangling gates and control their collective motion.

<html><body><h2 id="addressed-gates-with-the-optical-magnus-effect">Addressed gates with the optical Magnus effect</h2> <p>Tightly focused light provides more than a small addressing spot: its spatially varying polarization offers a new way to couple an ion’s spin to its motion. Using the optical Magnus effect, we implemented addressed entangling gates driven by co-propagating Raman light through a single objective. This geometry simplifies the optical interface while retaining flexible selection of the ions involved in the gate.</p> <p>The work was reported in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1103/w5l6-wmrl">Physical Review Letters 135, 260604 (2025)</a>. After correcting for state-preparation and measurement errors, the measured Bell-state fidelities were <strong>98.7(1)% in a two-ion chain and 97.2(4)% in a four-ion chain</strong>.</p> <h2 id="from-precise-addressing-to-phonon-control">From precise addressing to phonon control</h2> <p>We combine single-sided polarization-gradient control with in-situ aberration correction and coupling to axial motional modes. Optical tweezers also provide local potentials for tuning ion motion; building on demonstrated control of an ion’s vibrational frequency, we are developing ways to reshape phonon modes within ion crystals and reduce unwanted motional crosstalk.</p> <p><a href="/pages/researches/trapped-ion-qip.html">Explore the trapped-ion quantum computing research →</a></p> <p><a href="/gallery/high-optical-access-trap.html">See the high optical access (HOA) trap →</a></p> </body></html>2026-03-28T10:23:00+08:002026-03-28T10:23:00+08:00qngtag:lqcc.ustc.edu.cn,2026-03-28:/iontrap/gallery/quantum-interface-concept.html

Connecting stationary matter qubits through optical quantum channels.

<html><body><p>Quantum interfaces connect stationary matter qubits to photons that carry quantum information between remote nodes. In our research, trapped ions provide coherent local processing, while cavity interfaces and frequency conversion connect those processors to optical channels and other quantum systems.</p> <p><a href="/pages/research.html">Explore our quantum-network research →</a></p> </body></html>2026-03-28T10:21:00+08:002026-03-28T10:21:00+08:00qngtag:lqcc.ustc.edu.cn,2026-03-28:/iontrap/gallery/hybrid-quantum-network.html

Connecting trapped-ion processors and solid-state quantum memories through quantum frequency conversion.

<html><body><p>Trapped ions provide long-lived coherence and high-fidelity quantum operations, while solid-state memories store photonic quantum states. We develop interfaces that combine these capabilities in a hybrid network, connecting local ion control with remote optical storage.</p> <p>Our polarization-preserving frequency converter bridges the 369.5 nm emission of a ytterbium ion and the 580 nm transition of a europium-doped crystal memory. A Sagnac loop stabilizes the polarization components, and off-axis parabolic mirrors provide achromatic coupling across the wavelength bands (<a href="https://doi.org/10.3788/COL202624.021901">Chinese Optics Letters, 2026</a>). The two figures show the network architecture and the experimental system linking the ion node, frequency converter and memory.</p> <p>Working with Professor Zong-Quan Zhou’s team, we established ion–memory entanglement between laboratories separated by 75 m and connected by 90 m of optical fiber. Joint measurements after storage and retrieval verify quantum correlations across this heterogeneous link. The experiment is reported in the preprint <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.05836">Heterogeneous entanglement between a trapped ion and a solid-state quantum memory (arXiv:2603.05836)</a>, with further details in <a href="/publications/files/thesis/2026_hybrid-quantum-networks-trapped-ions-solid-state-memories_wang-chenxu.pdf">Chen-Xu Wang’s doctoral thesis (2026)</a>. We plan to extend these interfaces to neutral-atom systems and explore distributed quantum computing across physical platforms.</p> <p><a href="/pages/researches/hybrid-quantum-network.html">Explore our hybrid quantum network research →</a></p> </body></html>2026-03-28T10:20:00+08:002026-03-28T10:20:00+08:00qngtag:lqcc.ustc.edu.cn,2026-03-28:/iontrap/gallery/cavity-qed-interface.html

From gold-coated fiber mirrors to needle-trap integration: building high-bandwidth, high-efficiency ion–photon interfaces.

<html><body><p>We integrate fiber microcavities with needle ion traps to develop ion–photon interfaces for quantum networks. The small cavity mode volume enhances ion–cavity coupling, while the fibers provide channels for collecting and transmitting photons. By designing the mirrors, trapping geometry and optical coupling together, we aim to build network nodes that combine high bandwidth with high efficiency.</p> <p>The photographs show the hardware behind this interface. Gold coating on the fiber sides and the outer regions of the end faces provides electrical shielding while leaving the central optical apertures open. Two opposing fiber mirrors form a microcavity, which is integrated with the needle trap inside the vacuum chamber. The fluorescence image of a single Ba⁺ ion between the mirrors shows the ion confined within this cavity geometry.</p> <p><a href="/pages/researches/quantum-network-cavity-qed.html">Explore quantum networking with cavity QED →</a></p> </body></html>