IP Library Granted Patent US 12,367,413
Granted Patent B2
US 12,367,413 · App. 17/812,040 · Granted Jul 22, 2025

Broadband sympathetic electromagnetically-induced transparency (EIT) cooling

Inventors: Colin Joseph Kennedy (Broomfield, CO); Christopher Gilbreth (Broomfield, CO)
Assignee: Quantinuum LLC
G06N10/40G06F1/20
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,367,413
App. No.
17/812,040
Granted
Jul 22, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An atomic object confined in a particular region of an atomic object confinement apparatus is cooled using an S-to-P-to-D EIT cooling operation. A controller associated with the atomic object confinement apparatus controls first and second manipulation sources to respectively provide first and second manipulation signals to the particular region. The first manipulation signal is characterized by a first wavelength corresponding to a transition between an S manifold and a P manifold of a first component of the atomic object and detuned from the S-to-P transition by a first detuning. The second manipulation signal is characterized by a second wavelength corresponding to a transition between the P manifold and a D manifold of the first component and detuned from the P-to-D transition by a second detuning. The first and second detunings selected to establish a dark state associated with a two-photon transition between the S manifold and the D manifold.

Claims (45)

1. A method for cooling an atomic object confined by an atomic object confinement apparatus, the method comprising:

controlling, by a controller associated with the atomic object confinement apparatus, a first manipulation source to provide a first manipulation signal to a particular region of the atomic object confinement apparatus; and

controlling, by the controller, a second manipulation source to provide a second manipulation signal to the particular region of the atomic object confinement apparatus,

wherein:

the atomic object to be cooled is located in the particular region of the atomic object confinement apparatus,

the first manipulation signal is characterized by a first wavelength corresponding to a first transition between a first clock state of an S manifold and a P manifold of a first component of the atomic object and detuned from the first transition by a first detuning,

the second manipulation signal is characterized by a second wavelength corresponding to a second transition between a second clock state of the S manifold and the P manifold of the first component of the atomic object and detuned from the second transition by a second detuning, and

the first and second detunings are selected to establish a dark state associated with a two photon transition between the first clock state and the second clock state.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the atomic object is an ion crystal comprising two or more ions and the first component of the atomic object is at least one of the two or more ions of a first atomic object type.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first component of the atomic object is configured for use as a cooling ion in a sympathetic cooling scheme for the ion crystal.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein a second component of the atomic object is at least one of the two or more ions of a second atomic object type, the second atomic object type being different from the first atomic object type, and wherein the at least one of the two or more ions of the second atomic object type is configured for use as a qubit of a quantum computer comprising the atomic object confinement apparatus.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first atomic object type is singly ionized ytterbium.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first detuning and the second detuning are substantially equal.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising causing generation of a magnetic field having a magnetic field direction in the particular region of the atomic object confinement apparatus, the magnetic field direction is transverse to a propagation direction of the first manipulation signal.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first manipulation signal is characterized by a first polarization that is a linear polarization substantially parallel to a plane defined by the atomic object confinement apparatus and the second manipulation signal is characterized by a second polarization that is a linear polarization substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the atomic object.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising causing generation of a magnetic field having a magnetic field direction in the particular region of the atomic object confinement apparatus, wherein the magnetic field direction is transverse to the first polarization.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first manipulation signal is characterized by a first polarization and the second manipulation signal is characterized by a second polarization, the first polarization being transverse to the second polarization.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first clock state is an F=1, m=0 state and the second clock state is an F=0, m=0 state.

12. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and memory storing computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions configured to, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

control a first manipulation source to provide a first manipulation signal to a particular region of an atomic object confinement apparatus; and

control a second manipulation source to provide a second manipulation signal to the particular region of the atomic object confinement apparatus,

wherein:

an atomic object to be cooled is located in the particular region of the atomic object confinement apparatus,

the first manipulation signal is characterized by a first wavelength corresponding to a first transition between a first clock state of an S manifold and a P manifold of a first component of the atomic object and detuned from the first transition by a first detuning, and

the second manipulation signal is characterized by a second wavelength corresponding to a second transition between a second clock state of the S manifold and the P manifold of the first component of the atomic object and detuned from the second transition by a second detuning,

the first and second detunings are selected to establish a dark state associated with a two photon transition between the first clock state and the second clock state.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the atomic object is an ion crystal comprising two or more ions and the first component of the atomic object is at least one of the two or more ions of a first atomic object type.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first component of the atomic object is configured for use as a cooling ion in a sympathetic cooling scheme for the ion crystal and is either singly ionized ytterbium or has an energy level structure that is similar to singly ionized ytterbium.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein a second component of the atomic object is at least one of the two or more ions of a second atomic object type, the second atomic object type being different from the first atomic object type, and wherein the at least one of the two or more ions of the second atomic object type is configured for use as a qubit of a quantum computer comprising the atomic object confinement apparatus.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first detuning and the second detuning are substantially equal.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein a magnetic field having a magnetic field direction is present in the particular region of the atomic object confinement apparatus and the magnetic field direction is transverse to a propagation direction of the first manipulation signal.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first manipulation signal is characterized by a first polarization that is a linear polarization substantially parallel to a plane defined by the atomic object confinement apparatus and the second manipulation signal is characterized by a second polarization that is a linear polarization substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the atomic object, a magnetic field having a magnetic field direction is present in the particular region of the atomic object confinement apparatus, and the magnetic field direction is transverse to the first polarization.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first clock state is an F=1, m=0 state and the second clock state is an F=0, m=0 state.

20. A system comprising:

an atomic object confinement apparatus configured to confine an atomic object in a particular region of the atomic object confinement apparatus;

a first manipulation source controllable by a controller of the system and configured to provide a first manipulation signal to the particular region of the atomic object confinement apparatus;

a second manipulation source controllable by the controller of the system and configured to provide a second manipulation signal to the particular region of the atomic object confinement apparatus; and

the controller comprising at least one processor and memory storing computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions configured to, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the controller to at least:

control a first manipulation source to provide a first manipulation signal to a particular region of an atomic object confinement apparatus; and

control a second manipulation source to provide a second manipulation signal to the particular region of the atomic object confinement apparatus,

wherein:

the atomic object to be cooled is located in the particular region of the atomic object confinement apparatus,

the first manipulation signal is characterized by a first wavelength corresponding to a first transition between a first clock state of an S manifold and a P manifold of a first component of the atomic object and detuned from the first transition by a first detuning,

the second manipulation signal is characterized by a second wavelength corresponding to a second transition between a second clock state of the S manifold and the P manifold of the first component of the atomic object and detuned from the second transition by a second detuning, and

the first and second detunings are selected to establish a dark state associated with a two photon transition between the first clock state and the second clock state.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 12, 2022
From: KENNEDY, COLIN JOSEPH; GILBRETH, CHRISTOPHER
To: QUANTINUUM LLC
Reel/Frame 060486/0206 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63228486 · Aug 2, 2021
Related Publication 20230050581A1 · Feb 16, 2023
References Cited (56)
US 5620571A · Bahns et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 10733524B1 · Feig et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10951002B1 · Bohn et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20020117612A1 · Kumagai et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20030136131A1 · Chu et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20040200952A1 · Beausoleil et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20200116623A1 · Cooper-Roy · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20200185120A1 · Keesling et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210136902A1 · Chang et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210212764A1 · Eskandar et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210272006A1 · King et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20220222560A1 · Monroe et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20230049490A1 · Feig et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
CN 101006459A · 2007 [cited by applicant]
CN 104036841A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
CN 109211414A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
EP 1227708A1 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
JP 2002328199A · 2002 [cited by applicant]
JP 2012019261A · 2012 [cited by applicant]
JP 2020528357A · 2020 [cited by applicant]
JP 2020187741A · 2020 [cited by applicant]
JP 2021508382A · 2021 [cited by applicant]
JP 2021090054A · 2021 [cited by applicant]
JP 2023021954A · 2023 [cited by applicant]
TW 202134689A · 2021 [cited by applicant]
Communication about intention to grant a European patent Mailed on Jun. 3, 2024 for EP Application No. 22187957, 6 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Communication about intention to grant a European patent Mailed on May 24, 2024 for EP Application No. 22187951, 6 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Decision to grant a European patent Mailed on Oct. 4, 2024 for EP Application No. 22187951, 2 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Decision to grant a European patent Mailed on Oct. 4, 2024 for EP Application No. 22187957, 2 page(s). [cited by applicant]
English Translation of TW Office Action dated Feb. 19, 2024 for TW Application No. 111128915, 4 page(s). [cited by applicant]
TW Notice of Allowance Mailed on Feb. 19, 2024 for TW Application No. 111128915, 4 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance and Fees Due (PTOL-85) Mailed on Jan. 30, 2025 for U.S. Appl. No. 17/812,035, 10 page(s). [cited by applicant]
English translation of JP Decision to Grant dated Feb. 13, 2024 for JP Application No. 2022123392, 2 page(s). [cited by applicant]
JP Decision to Grant Mailed on Feb. 13, 2024 for JP Application No. 2022123392, 4 page(s). [cited by applicant]
English translation of JP Decision to Grant dated Dec. 11, 2023 for JP Application No. 2022123391, 2 page(s). [cited by applicant]
English Translation of JP Office Action dated Aug. 14, 2023 for JP Application No. 2022123391, 2 page(s). [cited by applicant]
English Translation of JP Office Action dated Sep. 4, 2023 for JP Application No. 2022123392, 3 page(s). [cited by applicant]
English translation of JP Search report dated Jun. 15, 2023 for JP Application No. 2022123391, 17 page(s). [cited by applicant]
English translation of TW Notice of Allowance dated Nov. 29, 2023 for TW Application No. 111128914, 2 page(s). [cited by applicant]
English Translation of TW Office Action, including Search Report, dated Jun. 30, 2023 for TW Application No. 111128915, 3 page(s). [cited by applicant]
English Translation of TW Office Action, including Search Report, dated Oct. 26, 2023 for TW Application No. 111128914, 3 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Extended European search report Mailed on Jan. 30, 2023 for EP Application No. 22187951, 5 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Extended European search report Mailed on Jan. 30, 2023 for EP Application No. 22187957, 5 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Feng, L., et al., “Efficient Ground-State Cooling of Large Trapped-Ion Chains with an Electromagnetically-Induced-Transparency Tripod Scheme”, Physical Review Letters, Jul. 29, 2020, 5 pages, vol. 125, No. 053001, Ameri… [cited by applicant]
Huang, T., et al., “Double-EIT laser cooling via amplitude and phase control of a microwave field”, Optik, Mar. 2016, pp. 2978-2982, vol. 127, No. 5, Elsevier GmbH, Germany. [cited by applicant]
JP Decision to Grant Mailed on Dec. 11, 2023 for JP Application No. 2022123391, 3 page(s). [cited by applicant]
JP Office Action Mailed on Aug. 14, 2023 for JP Application No. 2022123391, 2 page(s). [cited by applicant]
JP Office Action, including Search Report, Mailed on Sep. 4, 2023 for JP Application No. 2022123392, 4 page(s). [cited by applicant]
JP Search report Mailed on Jun. 15, 2023 for JP Application No. 2022123391, 11 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Qiao, Mu, et al., “Double-EIT Ground-State Cooling of Stationary Two-Dimensional lon Lattices”, dated May 10, 2021, retrieved from the Internet at Cornell University's website <https://arxiv.org/pdf/2003.10276.pdf>, on … [cited by applicant]
Qiao, Mu, et al., “Double-Electromagnetically-Induced-Transparency Ground-State Cooling of Stationary Two-Dimensional Ion Crystals”, Physical Review Letters, Jan. 13, 2021, pp. 1-19, vol. 126, No. 2, American Physical S… [cited by applicant]
Sullivan, D. B., et al., “Primary Atomic Frequency Standards at NIST”, Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Jan.-Feb. 2001, pp. 47-63, vol. 106, No. 1, National Institute of Standar… [cited by applicant]
TW Notice of Allowance Mailed on Nov. 29, 2023 for TW Application No. 111128914, 2 page(s). [cited by applicant]
TW Office Action, including Search Report, Mailed on Jun. 30, 2023 for TW Application No. 111128915, 4 page(s). [cited by applicant]
TW Office Action, including Search Report, Mailed on Oct. 26, 2023 for TW Application No. 111128914, 4 page(s). [cited by applicant]
Urabe, Shinji, “Related Technologies and Applications of Laser-Cooled Ions: Laser-Cooled Ions and Their Applications,” Journal of the Japan Society of Plasma and Nuclear Fusion, Jun. 2005, pp. 755-763, vol. 81, No. 10, … [cited by applicant]