Design, simulation, and manufacturability of a micro-ion trap incorporating a 3D-printed loading zone for improved hot-ion capture

We leverage recent advances in 3D-printing technology to design, simulate, and fabricate a micro-ion trap with a spatially distinct loading zone for more efficient loading of ions from effusive thermal ovens. The design reduces the Mathieu-q parameter in the loading zone by increasing the rf-null-to-electrode separation r0, thereby potentially facilitating more effective laser cooling of hot ions. This circumvents the temporary thermal instability that arises when the rf potential is reduced during ion loading, a common practice to enable efficient laser cooling of hot ions. Simulations predict that expanding r0 maintains a high trapped ion fraction from a simulated thermal source across a wide range of Mathieu-q parameters. We demonstrate the manufacturability of this design by 3D-printing the rf rails of a four-rod ion trap using the same material and processes used to fabricate a functioning ion trap. We briefly compare hot-ion capture in the three-dimensional design presented here with that in a representative planar trap, illustrating one instance in which the former may be better for loading. The article concludes with an outlook for how this design may be incorporated into a quantum-CCD architecture to enhance ion loading and reduce associated experimental overheads.