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On-chip ion trap development integrating atomic physics and microfabrication with ORCA®-Quest
Published on October 27, 2025
In recent years, the development of quantum technologies that leverage the unique properties of quantum mechanics—such as quantum computers, quantum communication, and quantum sensors—has been rapidly advancing. Among these, quantum computers are particularly promising, as they utilize the quantum property of superposition to process vast amounts of information. As a result, fundamental research aimed at the practical implementation of quantum computers in society is being actively pursued by various research institutions.
One of the main approaches to building quantum computers is the 'ion trap' method, which, as the name suggests, involves trapping ions in a vacuum. By arranging ions in isolated configurations, it is possible to prepare ideal quantum states, making this method a promising candidate for high-precision quantum computing. We interviewed Professor Utako Tanaka from The University of Osaka, who is engaged in the development of this technology and its applications in advanced quantum devices, and Mr. Ryosuke Nishimoto, who primarily uses the ORCA-Quest ultra-sensitive camera in his research.
Current research
Could you tell us about your research?
At the Utako Tanaka Group in the Graduate School of Engineering Science at The University of Osaka, research and development is underway on on-chip ion traps that integrate atomic physics with microfabrication technologies.
Ion traps are devices that use specially designed electrodes to generate electric fields capable of confining atomic ions in a vacuum. By capturing ions in the trap and applying laser cooling—a technique that suppresses ion motion using laser light—researchers can prepare ions in a state where they can be individually manipulated. The ability to arrange ions in isolated configurations enables the creation of highly entangled quantum states, which are essential for achieving high-precision quantum computing.
Furthermore, by incorporating microfabrication techniques into the electrodes that control the ion traps, the group is developing on-chip ion traps—quantum devices with integrated circuit functionality.
Challenges in on-chip ion traps
What are the challenges in advancing research on on-chip ion traps?
Ion traps offer significant advantages for improving the precision of quantum computers. Unlike superconducting or semiconductor-based systems, which require cryogenic equipment to operate near absolute zero, ion trap systems do not need such cooling, making them more suitable for miniaturization. However, handling microscopic and delicate ions in a vacuum presents its own challenges. Maintaining the stability of ion states requires sophisticated techniques to minimize disturbances such as voltage noise and laser frequency fluctuations.
One of the key challenges in on-chip integration is how to implement wiring and other components to apply voltages to the trap electrodes within an ultra-high vacuum environment. Since such vacuum conditions do not exist in everyday life, working in this unordinary environment is inherently difficult.
Another common challenge across all quantum computing platforms is scalability. To perform meaningful computations, it is estimated that tens of thousands to ultimately millions of qubits will be required. Achieving this scale remains a major hurdle in the field.
Prof. Utako Tanaka
Left: On-chip ion trap device
Right: Conventional ion trap device
Decisive factor for introducing the ORCA-Quest
Could you tell us about the decisive factor for introducing the ORCA-Quest?
Since the ions being observed are extremely microscopic and emit only very faint fluorescence, a camera capable of detecting ultra-low light levels was essential. Additionally, because the spacing between the arranged ions is only a few micrometers and they must be individually resolved, high spatial resolution was also a critical requirement for the camera.
Key achievements enabled by the introduction of ORCA-Quest
Could you share any specific outcomes or benefits you’ve experienced from using ORCA-Quest? What aspects made you feel that its introduction was worthwhile?
Traditionally, fluorescence from trapped ions was observed using a combination of an image intensifier and a CMOS camera. However, the ORCA-Quest camera, which can operate independently and offers exceptionally high spatial resolution, has significantly enhanced the precision of ion state detection. This advancement enables the clear distinction of individual ions. Furthermore, the increased sensor area allows for the simultaneous observation of a larger number of ions. The high image clarity also facilitates the acquisition of multiple high-fidelity datasets within a single experimental run.
In practice, setting up an ion trap experiment is often more time-consuming than anticipated. It involves aligning laser beam paths, initializing peripheral equipment, and fine-tuning experimental parameters to establish optimal trapping conditions. Once ions are successfully confined, the next step is to ensure that the laser beams are interacting with the ions under optimal conditions. This is achieved by monitoring the fluorescence images captured by the ORCA-Quest and making precise adjustments accordingly. Only after achieving this optimized state can the actual experimental measurements commence. If any issues arise during this preparatory phase, it can take several hours—sometimes more than half a day—before ion fluorescence becomes observable.
Below is an example of an ion fluorescence image acquired using the ORCA-Quest camera. In this image, three ions confined in a harmonic potential are aligned and clearly visible. In ion trap experiments, it is generally possible to apply an oscillating electric field to the trap electrodes at a frequency corresponding to the curvature of the harmonic potential, thereby driving the ions into motion. This technique is known as forced oscillation. The fluorescence image shown here captures the result of sweeping the frequency of the applied AC signal around the trap’s characteristic frequency, allowing observation of the resonance phenomenon.
With the conventional detection method—combining an image intensifier with a CMOS camera—it was not possible to resolve the individual oscillatory responses of multiple ions simultaneously. However, thanks to the high spatial resolution of the ORCA-Quest, it is now possible to observe the resonance behavior of each ion independently. This capability enables experiments that previously required multiple runs with a single ion to be replaced by a single run involving multiple ions, significantly improving experimental throughput.
The advantages of the ORCA-Quest extend beyond its ability to capture high-resolution images. As demonstrated in the forced oscillation measurements, it contributes not only to reducing the number of experimental iterations and improving research efficiency, but also to enhancing the overall precision of measurements. The clearly improved detection sensitivity makes the ORCA-Quest an exciting and valuable tool in the laboratory, and its introduction has had a tangible impact on the quality and efficiency of our experimental work.
Mr. Ryosuke Nishimoto
Ion trap imaging captured with ORCA-Quest
Images of three trapped ions in a planar trap with sweeping frequency of an external ac signal to excite the motion of the ions. The width of each of ions is spreads out in the z-direction when the frequency of the external ac signal corresponds to the motional frequency.
Data courtesy of Utako Tanaka, Division of Electronic and Photonic Science, Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering Science, The University of Osaka
Prospects for future research
What are your prospects for future research?
This overlaps slightly with what I mentioned earlier regarding the challenges, but our research goal is to enhance the precision of ion traps, miniaturize on-chip quantum devices, and increase the number of ions that can be trapped—all while achieving these advancements quickly and reliably. Although our work is focused on fundamental research in quantum computing, our ultimate goal is the practical implementation of quantum computers in society. To that end, we aim to develop on-chip ion traps and related technologies that are suitable for real-world applications.
Researcher profiles
Utako Tanaka
Associate Professor, Division of Electronic and Photonic Science, Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering Science, The University of Osaka
1993 Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Ph.D. in Science
1993 Research Fellow, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
1994 Research Scientist, Communications Research Laboratory, Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications
1998 Senior Research Scientist, Communications Research Laboratory, Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications
2000 Conducted ion trap experiments at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), USA, as a Long-Term Overseas Research Fellow of the Science and Technology Agency
2003 Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Engineering Science, The University of Osaka
2006 Current post
Ryosuke Nishimoto
2nd-Year Doctoral Student, Division of Electronic and Photonic Science, Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering Science, The University of Osaka
March 2024 Division of Electronic and Photonic Science, Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering Science, The University of Osaka, Master’s Program
*The content presented on this page is based on an interview conducted in April 2025.
Related product
The ORCA-Quest 2 is a new qCMOS® camera, the successor to the ORCA-Quest with further advances such as faster readout speeds in extremely low-noise scan mode and increased sensitivity in the ultraviolet region.
Other case studies
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