TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Miniature ion traps for fast, high-fidelity and scalable quantum computations

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Contract Opportunity

Opportunity:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344 (Contract 44) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to enter into a collaboration to further develop and commercialize its miniature ion traps for fast, high-fidelity and scalable quantum computations.

Background:

Quantum information processing uses quantum-mechanical phenomena such as superposition and entanglement to perform computation. Quantum circuits use quantum bits, or qubits. Qubits are stored in stable electronic states of each ion, and quantum information can transfer through the collective quantized motion of the ions in a shared trap. Scalable architectures for quantum information processing with trapped ions will necessarily comprise thousands of computation sites, and each computational site would house several ions, which serve as qubits.

Currently pursued large-scale architectures rely on two-dimensional trap geometries amenable to lithographic microfabrication. This method raises challenges when scaling to a large number of computation sites. New microfabrication methods and 3D printing techniques enable complicated three-dimensional structures to be manufactured quickly and with high precision, which allows for new miniature ion traps to be created with features and scalability needed to advance quantum computing.

Description:

LLNL and its research partners have created miniature ion traps with submicron precision and complex geometries made using 3D printing for fast, high-fidelity and scalable quantum computations. A patent is pending on the technology, with claims covering embodiments for a vertical ion trap, horizontal ion traps and methods of forming the ion traps using advanced manufacturing techniques.

Advantages/Benefits:

• allows for fast, high fidelity miniaturization - printed ion traps have high trap frequency and deep harmonic potentials.


• enables scalability


• has the potential to expand geometric freedom and optimize features in ion traps that go beyond the limits of photolithography.

Potential Applications:

• quantum computing systems

Development Status:

Current stage of technology development: TRL ☒ 0-2 ☐ 3-5 ☐ 5-9

LLNL has filed for patent protection on this invention.

U.S. Patent Application No. 2023/0274174 Miniature ion traps for fast, high-fidelity and scalable quantum computations published 8/31/2023

LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information.

Please visit the IPO website at https://ipo.llnl.gov/resources for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.

Note: THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT. Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's miniature ion traps for fast, high-fidelity and scalable quantum computations should provide an electronic OR written statement of interest, which includes the following:

1. Company Name and address.


2. The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact.


3. A description of corporate expertise and/or facilities relevant to commercializing this technology.

Please provide a complete electronic OR written statement to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's miniature ion traps for fast, high-fidelity and scalable quantum computations.

The subject heading in an email response should include the Notice ID and/or the title of LLNL’s Technology/Business Opportunity and directed to the Primary and Secondary Point of Contacts listed below.

Written responses should be directed to:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Innovation and Partnerships Office

P.O. Box 808, L-779

Livermore, CA 94551-0808

Attention: IL-13569

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