Micromotion compensation in a surface electrode trap by parametric excitation of trapped ions

We report a surface electrode trap with a relatively large trap depth (0.6–1.0 eV). The trap electrodes are formed by gold plating an alumina substrate. Calcium ions are trapped approximately 400 μm above the trap surface. We demonstrate micromotion compensation based on parametric resonance for surface electrode traps. Unlike the conventional method based on radio-frequency (rf)–photon correlation in which the wave vector of the laser beam must have a component parallel to the micromotion to be detected, the proposed method is independent of the laser propagation direction. This enables the micromotion component normal to the electrode surface to be detected without increasing the scattered light.