AFE Demultiplexer

[andrewvh4]

Feature request:

Considering the proposal outlined in: Malinowski et al, 2023: How to wire a 1000-qubit trapped ion quantum computer

An AFE capable of output demultiplexing might be useful for large-scale trapped ion systems. Has there been any discussion around this idea as a future Shuttler AFE?

[gkasprow]

this is exactly what we are doing at the WUT right now https://github.com/sinara-hw/meta/issues/46

[andrewvh4]

I agree cryogenic ASICs will be necessary for the scaling of future systems, but I was imagining a room-temperature PCB similar to the current AFE designs. This would, of course, still require a large number of vacuum feed-throughs.

Are we assuming the vacuum feed-throughs, not the DAC channels, will be the limiting scaling factor in the near term? That the current architecture can support systems up until in-chamber ASICs are necessary?

[gkasprow]

What would be the benefit? In such case it's easy to use 32-channel Zotino or Fastino boards.

[dhslichter]

@andrewvh4 It would be possible to make a switching-based AFE of the type you mention, but this is a major technical undertaking to figure out exactly how it should work, and there is not a large demand for it right now. If your group is interested in pursuing this, you should come up with a basic plan and post it, and then people can comment. What is your specific desired use case?

Shuttler is targeting applications where >1 MHz bandwidth is needed (for diabatic transport operations, or for parametric modulation of trapping potentials). For slower operations, Zotino and Fastino have higher channel densities and are more space/cost efficient.

[maciejprzybysz]

As there was no follow-up from @andrewvh4 I closed this issue. Feel free to reopen in case of any update in this topic.