A single-ion trap with minimized ion–environment interactions

Abstract

We present a new single-ion endcap trap for high-precision spectroscopy that has been designed to minimize ion–environment interactions. We describe the design in detail and then characterize the working trap using a single trapped (Formula presented.) ion. Excess micromotion has been eliminated to the resolution of the detection method, and the trap exhibits an anomalous phonon heating rate of (Formula presented.). The thermal properties of the trap structure have also been measured with an effective temperature rise at the ion’s position of (Formula presented.). The small perturbations to the ion caused by this trap make it suitable to be used for an optical frequency standard with fractional uncertainties below the (Formula presented.) level.