Vacuum Enabling Quantum

Presentation summaries

Pressure measurement with Quantum sensors
Sam Lodge – University of Sussex/ Edwards Ltd
An introduction to quantum sensors and a feasibility study in the use of quantum sensing to measure pressure in a UHV system.

Challenges and prospects in compact ultra-high vacuum systems for applications in demanding environments
Matt Himsworth – Aquark Technologies
High performance atomic clocks, sensors and computers rely on the separation from environmental decoherence to protect the fragile quantum states. Ultra-high vacuum levels are challenging enough in the laboratory, so maintaining them in demanding environments such as choppy seas, variable and harsh weather, military vehicles and even rocket launches add another range of issues. Moreover, end-user expectations on low size, weight, power and cost mean that this area of research is still strong and timely for innovation. We will describe Aquark’s efforts to meet these challenges and future R&D plans.

Vacuum systems for Cold Atom Interferometry in Space
Tristan Valenzuela – RAL
Cold Atom systems present themselves as a promising tool to ultraprecise, and accurate, inertial sensors. With their sensitivity scaling with the interrogation time square, the challenge becomes insulate the cold atom clouds from collisions with the room temperature gas molecules. In order to achieve that, the atomic clouds used as probes are to be enclosed in vessels with background pressures well in the UHV regime. At RAL Space we are working in the development of vacuum systems that enable pressures in the 10^-10mbar or below with the added complexity of reducing their weight and minimising the need of powered pumping mechanisms. We will describe some solutions and a particular use case.

Nanoparticles levitated in vacuum for precision sensing and quantum technology
James Millen – KCL
Mesoscopic objects can be levitated using optical, electrical or magnetic fields. When levitated in vacuum, they behave as ultra-high quality factor oscillators, offering tuneable precision sensing. The isolation provided by vacuum enables control of the motion of objects hundreds of nanometres in size at the quantum level, with applications in fundamental physics and quantum technology. I will present our work on controlling the motion of optically levitated silicon nanorods and the quest towards testing quantum mechanics in an unexplored mass range. I will also discuss some other surprising experiments possible when working with micro-objects levitated in vacuum!

Using a closed cycle cryostat for optical and electrical measurements of quantum materials
Mark Hughes – University of Salford
Closed-cycle helium cryostats are a key enabling technology for research in quantum technologies and the development of future commercial quantum computers, where high vacuum is essential for their operation. I will briefly explain why erbium-implanted silicon is useful for quantum memory and quantum computing applications. I will then describe the operation of the Oxford Instruments Optistat Dry cryostat that I use, emphasising the importance of vacuum for its performance. Finally, I will discuss how the closed-cycle cryostat is used for optical and electrical measurements of erbium-implanted silicon, including techniques for making reliable electrical contacts at low temperatures and methods for coupling optical fibres to chips under cryogenic conditions.

XHV Challenges in Ion Trap Quantum Computing
Amin Abolghasemi, Universal Quantum
Ion trap quantum computing relies on operation in the extreme high vacuum (XHV) regime, where qubit performance is highly sensitive to background gas interactions. Realising such environments presents substantial engineering challenges, including limited availability of suitable low-outgassing materials, difficulty in reliably qualifying components, and significant thermal stresses arising from transitions between high-temperature bakeout and cryogenic operation. Further complexity arises from the need to accommodate a large number of electrical connections without compromising vacuum integrity. This talk will highlight these challenges and the broader implications for XHV system design and scalability.

Vacuum Challenges and Opportunities in Neutral Atom Quantum Computing
Dr. Abhilash Kumar Jha – NQCC
Neutral atom quantum computing has undergone rapid scaling in recent years, driven in part by the fact that qubit trapping and manipulation are achieved entirely using optical fields. This approach provides exceptional isolation from the surrounding environment, enabling highly uniform qubits and reducing the characterisation overhead associated with system initialisation and operation. Central to this isolation is the ultra-high vacuum (UHV) system, which suppresses collisions with background gases that would otherwise eject atoms from their traps, limiting preparation fidelity and introducing operational errors during quantum circuits.

At the same time, neutral atom platforms demand substantial optical access for cooling, trapping, imaging, and coherent manipulation of atomic qubits. As a result, glass-cell-based science chambers have become a key enabling technology within the field. However, as system performance and scale continue to advance, increasingly sophisticated vacuum architectures are emerging, incorporating technologies such as moving optical lattices, differential pumping stages, and cryogenic environments.

In this talk, I will present an overview of the vacuum requirements for neutral atom quantum computing systems, discuss the current state of the art in UHV engineering across the neutral atom community, and explore how these considerations are shaping the design decisions of the Neutral Atom Tweezer Array team at the NQCC.