Reversing Hydride Ion Formation in Quantum Information Experiments with Be$^+$ (1412.0634v2)
Abstract: We demonstrate photodissociation of BeH$+$ ions within a Coulomb crystal of thousands of $9$Be$+$ ions confined in a Penning trap. Because BeH$+$ ions are created via exothermic reactions between trapped, laser-cooled Be$+$($2\text{P}_{3/2}$) and background H$_2$ within the vacuum chamber, they represent a major contaminant species responsible for infidelities in large-scale trapped-ion quantum information experiments. The rotational-state-insensitive dissociation scheme described here makes use of 157 nm photons to produce Be$+$ and H as products, thereby restoring Be$+$ ions without the need for reloading. This technique facilitates longer experiment runtimes at a given background H$_2$ pressure, and may be adapted for removal of MgH$+$ and AlH$+$ impurities.