Work

Demonstration of a mobile ion-trap quantum device

Year: 2026

Type: preprint

Abstract: Trapped-ion devices are being investigated for transportable applications, including the transfer of exotic charged particles between laboratories and the development of portable quantum technologies. To date, ion transport has been demonstrated only in magnetic (Penning) traps, whereas radiofrequency (Paul) traps are the predominant platform in quantum science. Here, we report the first transport of a few thousand ions confined in a linear Paul trap over distances of several kilometers, with transport durations of 15 and 45 min. These results establish a foundation for mobile trapped-ion quantum devices capable of operating while in motion and may enable the transport of exotic ions in Paul traps between experimental facilities.

Source: arXiv (Cornell University)

DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2610.20487

Authors: Alfaro, Sara, Bhanushali, Dipesh, Choudapurkar, Sankarshan, Bhartia, Ashwin, Lafenthaler, Thomas, Faorlin, Tommaso, Weiser, Yannick, Panzl, Lorenz, Monz, Thomas, Blatt, Rainer, Cerchiari, Giovanni

Institutions: Universität Innsbruck, University of Siegen, Alpine Quantum Technologies (Austria)

Language: English

Topic: Quantum Information and Cryptography

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Università degli Studi di Trento, Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen

OpenAlex ID: W7222055937

Cites:

Cited by:

Related to: 10