Transport of multispecies ion crystals through a junction in an RF Paul trap

Abstract

We report on the first demonstration of transport of a multispecies ion crystal through a junction in an RF Paul trap. The trap is a two-dimensional surface-electrode trap with an X junction and segmented control electrodes to which time-varying voltages are applied to control the shape and position of potential wells above the trap surface. We transport either a single $^{171}$Yb$^+$ ion or a crystal composed of a $^{138}$Ba$^+$ ion cotrapped with the $^{171}$Yb$^+$ ion to any port of the junction. We characterize the motional excitation by performing multiple round-trips through the junction and back to the initial well position without cooling. The final excitation is then measured using sideband asymmetry. For a single $^{171}$Yb$^+$ ion, transport with a $4\;\mathrm{m/s}$ average speed induces between $0.013\pm0.001$ and $0.014\pm0.001$ quanta of excitation per round trip, depending on the exit port. For a Ba-Yb crystal, transport at the same speed induces between $0.013\pm0.001$ and $0.030\pm0.002$ quanta per round trip of excitation to the axial center of mass mode. Excitation in the axial stretch mode ranges from $0.005\pm0.001$ to $0.021\pm0.001$ quanta per round trip.