Ionoptika Ltd and the University of Surrey have been awarded project grants worth a total of £425,000.00 from Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, to expand their research into new manufacturing technologies for quantum devices.

Quantum technologies are expected to create impact across multiple sectors from more secure online communications to personalised medicine. However, to date only a handful of companies, such as IBM and Google, have successfully built a basic quantum computer because of the extreme challenges to manufacture and operate these devices. This new Innovate grant will open up new scalable manufacturing methods to researchers in the UK and around the world.

The project, entitled “Rapid and Scalable Single Colour-Centre Implantation for Single Photon Sources”, was recommended for funding by a panel of independent assessors, who concluded that “This is an innovative project by two expert partners. If it is successful, it will lead to a unique product that may possibly revolutionise quantum computing.”

Ionoptika Ltd, together with the University of Surrey, will use beams of ionised atoms to create quantum devices one at a time using rare earth elements such as erbium and ytterbium. Ion beams are used widely in the scientific and manufacturing sectors, from the production of computer chips to medical diagnostic instrumentation and cancer treatment.

The technique, known as ion implantation, has been used for decades to make modern computer chips and benefits from being much quicker than other manufacturing methods. The main limitation of the technique for quantum applications has been the inability to precisely control the location and numbers of implanted ions at the single-ion level. The new tool from Ionoptika, called Q-One, solves this problem yet is still fast enough to implant one thousand quantum bits (qubits) every second.

The funding comes on the back of $1.3bn in UK government funding allocated for quantum technologies research.¹ It is expected to help Ionoptika expand, creating 20+ highly skilled STEM jobs in the Southampton area over the next 5-10 years, and injecting £6m+ into the UK engineering supply chain.

Paul Blenkinsopp, Managing Director at Ionoptika, commented, “Quantum technologies are set to drive the next generation of innovation and technologies. Ionoptika is delighted to be working with the University of Surrey on developing the tools and infrastructure that will be needed to realise many of these exciting quantum applications.”

Dr David Cox, from the University of Surrey, added, “The University of Surrey through the National Ion Beam Centre is delighted to work on this project with Ionoptika. The ability to precisely control the implantation of ions at the single-atom level offers enormous potential to the newly emerging quantum technologies that are set to revolutionise the world.”

Press release: pressat.co.uk/releases/new-funding-boosts-the-uks-future-in-quantum-manufacturing-766391c0ab7bf7129d63a0993739e010/

Ionoptika, a UK SME based in Chandler’s Ford, Hampshire, has driven innovation in scientific instrumentation for 27 years. Manufacturing state-of-the-art ion beam systems for labs around the world, they have contributed to research from fields as diverse as cancer research to quantum computers. For more information visit www.ionoptika.com.

¹https://www.qureca.com/overview-on-quantum-initiatives-worldwide-update-mid-2021/

Stigmatic imaging SIMS prototype installed at the University of Oxford

April 8, 2021/0 Comments/in News /by webmaster

Ionoptika have installed a prototype mass spec instrument at the University of Oxford, marking an exciting development milestone in this project. The prototype, which is a collaboration between the Rosalind Franklin Institute, the University of Oxford, and Ionoptika, is a new design of stigmatic imaging mass spectrometer.

The first stage of this project took place at Ionoptika’s headquarters near Southampton, where this unique instrument was built and tested. Researchers at the University of Oxford will now begin initial characterization and alignment of the primary ion beam, before the addition of extraction optics and high speed stigmatic detectors.

stigmatic imaging SIMS prototype — The prototype installed at the University of Oxford

The stigmatic imaging SIMS instrument will enable rapid molecular mapping of biological tissues at unprecedented speed, as this type of mass spectrometry imaging decouples acquisition time from spatial resolution. Typically mass spectrometry imaging, such as the J105 SIMS, scans across a surface taking a mass spectrum at each spot to build up the pixels of the image.

In this case, however, the whole surface is imaged simultaneously using state of the art cameras that operate as an array of position and time sensitive detectors that record a mass spectrum for each pixel in the camera image. It therefore represents a promising route to attaining higher throughput.

The Rosalind Franklin Institute is a new national institute, funded by the UK government through UK Research and Innovation, dedicated to bringing about transformative changes in life science through interdisciplinary research and technology development. The work is focused into five complementary themes including a Biological Mass Spectrometry theme, of which this new prototype is a part.

Read the full press release here.

Ionoptika offers custom vacuum instrumentation and ion beam systems for a range of applications, including vacuum chambers, sample handling and load-locks, cameras, and secondary electron imaging, as well as our range of ion beams. If you have a project in mind and would like a no obligation quote, get in touch via our Contact Page and we would be delighted to discuss it with you.

Analyse v2.0.2.15 Release

July 1, 2020/0 Comments/in News /by webmaster

We are happy to announce the release of Analyse v2.0.2.15 for all J105 SIMS customers. This long awaited release brings with it a host of new features as well as several bug fixes. Chief among the new features is a new imzML file converter. To download the new release, simply go to our downloads page and click on the link.

Ionoptika 2020

GCIB 10S Webinar in association with UCVAC

May 21, 2020/0 Comments/in News /by webmaster

On Thursday, in collaboration with UCVAC, we held a webinar on the GCIB 10S Gas Cluster Ion Beam for potential customers in China. The webinar was a great success, and we will certainly look to use this format again to connect with potential customers around the world, particularly while travel restrictions remain in place.

IONOPTIKA recently authorized UCVAC as its sole agent in mainland China and Hong Kong. With extensive experience in the surface science markets, UCVAC are well placed to assist business development and provide technical support in the region. We look forward to working together, and this webinar was a fantastic way to kick things off.

The GCIB 10S is a high-performance gas cluster ion beam that delivers rapid, low-damage sputtering for superior quality surface analysis. An ideal upgrade for a variety of instruments, such as XPS, SEM, SPM, and SIMS, the GCIB 10S brings many powerful advantages in an economical, low-maintenance package.

Ultra-low-energy sputtering by argon cluster ions helps to efficiently remove material while producing very low damage and minimal loss of chemical information, leaving a pristine surface for analysis. Removing just a few nanometres per cycle, the GCIB 10S is the ideal tool for achieving ultra-high-resolution depth profile analysis.

If you missed it live, you can watch the full webinar below.

RADIATE: Research And Development with Ion Beams – Advancing Technology in Europe

March 6, 2020/0 Comments/in News /by webmaster

Ionoptika has joined forces with 14 partners from public research and 3 other SMEs for the RADIATE project, exchanging experience and best practice examples in order to structure the European Research Area of ion technology application.

Besides further developing ion beam technology and strengthening the cooperation between European ion beam infrastructures, RADIATE is committed to providing easy, flexible and efficient access for researchers from academia and industry to the participating ion beam facilities. About 15,800 hours of transnational access in total is going to be offered free of charge to users who successfully underwent the RADIATE proposal procedure.

Joint research activities and workshops aim to strengthen Europe’s leading role in ion beam science and technology. The collaboration with industrial partners will tackle specific challenges for major advances across multiple subfields of ion beam science and technology.

RADIATE aims to attract new users from a variety of research fields, who are not yet acquainted with ion beam techniques in their research, and introduce them to ion beam technology and its applicability to their field of research. New users will be given extensive support and training.

The project is monitored by an External Advisory Board for quality assurance and guidance. Users with accepted proposals for RADIATE’s transnational access program are selected by an external user selection panel to ensure an unbiased and fair selection process.

RADIATE is building on the achievements of SPIRIT (Support of Public and Industrial Research using Ion Beam Technology), a previous EU funded project coordinated by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR). SPIRIT ran from 2009 to 2013 and united 7 European ion beam centers and 4 research providers.

To learn more about RADIATE or to get involved, please visit the website.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 824096

Ionoptika 2020

J105 SIMS

March 3, 2020/by webmaster

J105 SIMS

ToF SIMS with
Unparalleled Sensitivity

The J105 SIMS is a state-of-the-art 3D imaging ToF SIMS that delivers class-leading sensitivity with exceptional imaging and mass spectrometry performance. Combining innovative design and cutting-edge science with a comprehensive list of features, the J105 redefines what ToF SIMS can do.

Rapid high-resolution 2D and 3D molecular imaging.
Consistent mass accuracy and mass resolution across all samples, independent of sample height.
Unrivalled sensitivity and imaging MS performance with Ionoptika’s patented Water Source.
Range of high-performance ion beams to suit every application.
High-mass accuracy and tandem MS for accurate peak assignment.
Full cryo-sample handling capabilities.

The J105 at a glance

With a host of exciting features, the J105 is the ideal tool for a range of applications.

Obtain high-resolution 3D chemical images without running a “sputter-only” cycle ever again! Thanks to the unique combination of high-performance cluster ion beams and innovative buncher-ToF analyser, analysis and low-damage etching on the J105 occur simultaneously. As cluster beams are used for analysis, “sputter-only” cycles are not needed and every layer is analysed, making the J105 SIMS an extremely accurate tool for 3D imaging and depth profile analysis.

Ionoptika 2019

Q-One

May 15, 2019/by webmaster

pioneer

Advanced Platform for Nanoscale Ion Implantation

Pioneer is a state-of-the-art tool for deterministic ion implantation with nanoscale precision, which combines a high-resolution mass-filtered focused ion beam and nano-precision stage with a high-sensitivity detector array. The tool is anticipated to be at the forefront of research and innovation in areas as diverse as memory devices and quantum technologies.

Request Info

Quantum Technology

Quantum mechanics – that fascinating and sometimes bizarre theory governing the world of the very small – has enormous potential to revolutionize many aspects of modern technology. More secure digital communication, “quantum safe” cryptography methods, more accurate time measurements, and faster, more powerful computers are all thought possible.

Quantum computers in particular are an exciting prospect — it’s expected that they will be capable of solving problems not currently feasible even by our most powerful super computers. Actually building a quantum computer, however, remains an hugely ambitious challenge.

One design for a quantum bit, or qubit – the basic building block of a quantum computer – was put forward by Bruce Kane in 1998. It involves embedding pairs of donor atoms, such as phosphorous, very close to one another (~ 20 nm) within a silicon lattice. Known as electron-mediated nuclear spin coupling, the idea has been successfully utilized by researchers to fabricate individual qubits.

High-resolution, low-current ion column for precise placement of ions
Liquid metal or duoplasmatron ion source
Wide range of available dopant ions
Nano-precision stage with up to 6-inch wafer handling capability
Deterministic ion implantation detection system
High-resolution electron column available for non-destructive imaging

Schematic of Kane’s proposed electron-mediated nuclear spin coupling qubit device.

Using a scanning tunneling microscope, researchers carefully placed individual P atoms using an atomically sharp tip and by stimulating chemical reactions on an atom-by-atom basis. An incredibly intricate technique, it can take several days of meticulous preparation to create just a single qubit. A remarkable feat, however a faster, more scalable method is clearly required.

Single Ion Implantation

The SIMPLE project was established with this objective – to develop an instrument platform for the reliable fabrication of arrays of qubits, with high speed and high precision, using single-ion implantation.

A well established technique in the semiconductor industry, the principles of large-scale ion implantation can be applied to implant individual ions when the parameters are very carefully controlled. Leveraging Ionoptika’s expertise in ion beam design and detection, an instrument platform was designed that is capable of producing an array of millions of implanted ions in just a fraction of a second.

The need for new quantum fabrication technologies

The instrument comprises a highly focused, sub-20 nm mass-filtered ion column, a nano-precision stage, and high-sensitivity single ion implantation detection system. While detecting single ion events with high enough consistency for wide scale production remains a challenge, progress in this area has been encouraging, and confidence is high that this goal will be met. And when it is, it will mark a world first, and will usher in a new era of quantum computing.

New funding boosts the UK’s future in Quantum manufacturing

C60-20S

C60-20S

Key Features:

Stigmatic imaging SIMS prototype installed at the University of Oxford

Analyse v2.0.2.15 Release

GCIB 10S Webinar in association with UCVAC

RADIATE: Research And Development with Ion Beams – Advancing Technology in Europe

J105 SIMS

J105 SIMS

ToF SIMS with
Unparalleled Sensitivity

Rapid high-resolution 2D and 3D molecular imaging.

Consistent mass accuracy and mass resolution across all samples, independent of sample height.

Unrivalled sensitivity and imaging MS performance with Ionoptika’s patented Water Source.

Range of high-performance ion beams to suit every application.

High-mass accuracy and tandem MS for accurate peak assignment.

Full cryo-sample handling capabilities.

The J105 at a glance

Water Cluster Source

Choice of Ion Beams

Specialist Analysis Software

Cryo Sample Handling

Tandem MS Mode

Unique Analyser

Q-One

pioneer

High-resolution ion column

Deterministic ion implantation

Nanometer precision stage

Proprietary software

High-vacuum system

High-resolution electron column

Applications of Pioneer

Installations

SIMPLE

P-NAME

C60-20S

Key Features:

J105 SIMS

ToF SIMS with Unparalleled Sensitivity

The J105 at a glance

Water Cluster Source

Choice of Ion Beams

Specialist Analysis Software

Cryo Sample Handling

Tandem MS Mode

Unique Analyser

pioneer

High-resolution ion column

Deterministic ion implantation

Nanometer precision stage

Proprietary software

High-vacuum system

High-resolution electron column

Applications of Pioneer

Installations

SIMPLE

P-NAME

Quantum Technology

Single Ion Implantation

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ToF SIMS with
Unparalleled Sensitivity