IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,237,162
Granted Patent B2
US 12,237,162 · App. 17/371,899 · Granted Feb 25, 2025

Small-volume UHV ion-trap package and method of forming

Inventors: Jungsang Kim (Chapel Hill, NC); Geert Vrijsen (Durham, NC); Ismail Inlek (Durham, NC); Tom Noel (Boulder, CO); Megan Ivory (Boulder, CO); Alexander Kato (Boulder, CO); Steve Hughes (Boulder, CO)
Assignees: Duke University; ColdQuanta, Inc.
H01J49/422H01J49/16H01J49/24H01J49/42
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,237,162
App. No.
17/371,899
Granted
Feb 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure describe systems, methods, and structures that enable a compact, UHV ion trap system that can operate at temperatures above cryogenic temperatures. Ion trap systems in accordance with the present disclosure are surface treated and sealed while held in a UHV environment, where disparate components are joined via UHV seals, such as weld joints, compressible metal flanges, and UHV-compatible solder joints. As a result, no cryogenic pump is required, thereby enabling an extremely small-volume system.

Claims (26)

1. An ion-trap system comprising:

an ion trap disposed on a chip carrier; and

an enclosure that encloses the ion trap in a first chamber, wherein the enclosure includes a plurality of piece parts that includes the chip carrier and a housing, and wherein the piece parts of the plurality thereof are joined with a plurality of seals that consists of UHV seals;

wherein the first chamber has a pressure that is less than or equal to 10 −10 Torr;

wherein the first chamber has an internal volume that is less than or equal to 10 cm 3 ; and

wherein the ion-trap system has an operating temperature that is greater than or equal to −50° C.

2. The ion-trap system of claim 1 further comprising an ablation oven.

3. The ion-trap system of claim 2 wherein the plurality of piece parts includes a first window.

4. The ion-trap system of claim 3 wherein the first window comprises a single-crystal material that inhibits the diffusion of a small-molecule gas through the window.

5. The ion-trap system of claim 1 wherein at least one seal of the plurality thereof comprises at least one of a weld joint and a braze joint.

6. The ion-trap system of claim 1 wherein the enclosure includes a first surface that is activated to adsorb gas molecules.

7. The ion-trap system of claim 1 further comprising at least one of (1) a getter material and (2) an ion pump.

8. An ion-trap system comprising:

an ion trap disposed on a chip carrier; and

an enclosure that encloses the ion trap in a first chamber, wherein the enclosure includes a plurality of piece parts comprising the chip carrier and a housing;

a plurality of seals that consists of UHV seals, wherein plurality of seals join the piece parts of the plurality thereof; and

an ion pump that is joined with the enclosure via a first UHV seal;

wherein the first chamber has a pressure that is less than or equal to 10-10 Torr;

wherein the ion-trap system is cryosorption-pump-free; and

wherein the ion-trap system is configured to enable an operating temperature that is greater than or equal to −50° C.

9. The ion-trap system of claim 8 wherein the first chamber has an internal volume that is less than or equal to 10 cm 3 .

10. The ion-trap system of claim 8 wherein at least one seal of the plurality of seals comprises at least one of a weld joint and a braze joint.

11. The ion-trap system of claim 8 further comprising an ablation oven.

12. The ion-trap system of claim 11 wherein the enclosure further includes a first window that is joined with the enclosure at a second UHV seal.

13. The ion-trap system of claim 12 wherein the window comprises a single-crystal material that inhibits the diffusion of a small-molecule gas through the window.

14. The ion-trap system of claim 8 wherein the enclosure includes a first surface that is activated to adsorb gas molecules.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2022
From: NOEL, THOMAS WILLIAM; IVORY, MEGAN; KATO, ALEXANDER; HUGHES, STEVE
To: COLDQUANTA, INC.
Reel/Frame 062097/0313 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2021
From: KIM, JUNGSANG, DR.; VRIJSEN, GEERT; INLEK, ISMAIL
To: DUKE UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 056849/0610 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation In Part 16913932 · Jun 26, 2020
Division 15935312 · Mar 26, 2018
Provisional Application 62533927 · Jul 18, 2017
Provisional Application 63049842 · Jul 9, 2020
Related Publication 20210335591A1 · Oct 28, 2021
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