Asian Conference on Trapped Ions 2026

20 Apr 2026, 08:00 → 22 Apr 2026, 17:00 Asia/Singapore

Shaw Foundation Alumni House

Mukherjee, Manas (Centre for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapo), Barrett, Murray (Centre for Quantum Technologies), Matsukevich, Dzmitry (CQT)

Singapore's Centre for Quantum Technologies will host the inaugural Asian Conference on Trapped Ions (ACTI) on April 20-22, 2026 at the Shaw Foundation on the National University of Singapore campus. 

ACTI will bring together the growing community of ion-trappers from Asia and across the globe. As an inaugural conference, this year will highlight various scientific fields covered by trapped ion research within Asia and facilitate meaningful exchange between junior and senior members of the different groups. 

Even though ACTI in this form is new, there used to be a conference that included both ion and neutral atom trapping groups majorly from Asian countries. Since then, the recent growth in the ion trapping community in Asia has reached a critical stage. It is thus necessary to start a more concerted effort of providing a platform for collaboration within the community and to the international groups in the ion trapping field. ACTI is modeled in a similar spirit as the North American and European counterparts, thereby bringing together the ion-trapping community globally for collaboration and exchange of ideas focused on ion trapping.

 

Note: Please be mindful of Spam emails! 

All correspondances about ACTI2026 will be sent via [at]nus[dot]edu[sg] or indico[dot]global emails. Notifications from websites impersonating the conference organising committee or venues ought to be disregarded. 

Monday 20 April

08:00 → 08:50 Registration

08:50 → 09:00 Registration: Opening - Prof José Ignacio Latorre (CQT)

09:00 → 09:30 Talks: Prof Winfried Hensinger (University of Sussex)

We are proud to host top ion-trapping experts from the region and around the world at the inaugural Asian Conference for Trapped Ions (ACTI).

09:00 Developing modular microwave trapped-ion quantum computers for operation with millions of qubits

Speaker:
Prof Winfried Hensinger
University of Sussex

Abstract:
Microwave technology poses a significant opportunity to scale trapped ion quantum computers to system sizes that support utility scale quantum computation within the fault-tolerant regime. I will present progress on making microwave quantum gates faster with errors much below the fault-tolerant threshold by creating much larger magnetic field gradients. We have successfully developed a new generation of ion microchips capable of generating large magnetic field gradients in excess of 100 T/m. I will show progress on realizing high-fidelity gates with these new chips. We have invented a new approach to generate magnetic field gradient enabling orders of magnitude lower noise, while reducing expected power dissipation for the operation within utility scale-quantum computers and I will report on the first demonstration of this new approach. I will discuss progress in the development of trapped-ion quantum microchips including the integration of atomic ovens into the microchips and materials studies enabling much deeper trap depths in such chips.

As an application of our quantum computing research, I will discuss the realisation of a new electric field quantum sensor with unprecedented electric field sensitivities for the measurement of both DC signals and AC signals across a frequency range of sub-Hz to ∼ 500 kHz.

09:30 → 10:00 Talks: Prof Takashi Mukaiyama (Institute of Science Tokyo)

We are proud to host top ion-trapping experts from the region and around the world at the inaugural Asian Conference for Trapped Ions (ACTI).

09:30 Matter-Wave Interferometer of a Trapped Single Ion for a Quantum Sensing Application

Matter-Wave Interferometer of a Trapped Single Ion for a Quantum Sensing Application

Speaker:
Takashi Mukaiyama
Institute of Science Tokyo

Abstract:
Atoms in a coherent superposition of different momentum states enable high-precision measurements of physical quantities. Matter-wave interferometers typically exploit the entanglement between an atomic internal and motional states. The accumulated matter-wave phases along different paths are extracted from the interference signal of the internal states after the final pulse of the interferometer sequence. Achieving precise sensing requires exquisite control over both the internal and external states of individual quantum particles. Atoms and ions are ideal candidates for these applications, as their quantum states can be precisely manipulated using electronic and optical techniques.
Here we present our experimental demonstration of matter-wave interferometry of a trapped 171Yb+ ion in a three-dimensional motion, initiated by a momentum kick. We irradiate a mode-locked laser at 355 nm to bring the ion into a superposition of one spin state with no momentum and the other spin state with a momentum, namely a spin-motion entangled state. When the laser is applied along the direction diagonal to any of the trap principal axes, the moving half of the ion wave packet travels in a harmonic potential in a complicated way. After the free evolution time, we irradiate the second laser pulse to close the interferometer. Our experiment successfully observed matter-wave interference of ions in three-dimensional motion by exciting the motion of an ion. To realize a large interferometric area, we developed a technique to significantly expand the ion orbital area by rapidly moving the ion trap center. Additionally, we constructed the entire experimental setup on a rotatable optical table, allowing us to rotate the system for a future trial to detect rotation.

10:00 → 10:30 Breaks: Coffee

Meals and breaks

10:30 → 11:00 Talks: Prof Kihwan Kim (Tsinghua University)

We are proud to host top ion-trapping experts from the region and around the world at the inaugural Asian Conference for Trapped Ions (ACTI).

10:30 Beyond-Ten-Hour Coherence in a Decoherence-Free Clock Qubit

Speaker:
Prof Kihwan Kim
Tsinghua University

Abstract:
Quantum coherence fundamentally limits quantum computer and memory performance. While trapped atomic ions theoretically support million-year coherence based on spontaneous emission, experimental demonstrations have fallen orders of magnitude short. This gap raises whether we face fundamental physical limitations or addressable technical challenges.

We combine clock-state qubits with decoherence-free subspace (DFS) encoding to achieve coherence times exceeding ten hours—an order-of-magnitude improvement. Using 171Yb+ ion pairs sympathetically cooled by 138Ba+, we demonstrate this without magnetic shielding or enhanced microwave stabilization. DFS encoding cancels common-mode magnetic fluctuations across micrometer separations while clock states provide environmental insensitivity.

Our exponential fits yield a coherence time of 37,750 ± 10,890 seconds. These results experimentally verify that trapped-ion qubits are limited by technical factors rather than fundamental decoherence, establishing a pathway toward ultimate quantum memories for scalable information processing. I will also discuss our related work on scaling up qubit numbers using two-dimensional ion crystals.

11:00 → 11:30 Talks: Prof Umakant Rapol (IISER Pune)

We are proud to host top ion-trapping experts from the region and around the world at the inaugural Asian Conference for Trapped Ions (ACTI).

11:00 Prof Umakant Rapol (IISER Pune)

Speaker:
Prof Umakant Rapol
Indian Institute of science education and research (IISER Pune)

Abstract:
TBC

11:30 → 12:00 Talks: Prof Moonjoo Lee (Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH))

We are proud to host top ion-trapping experts from the region and around the world at the inaugural Asian Conference for Trapped Ions (ACTI).

11:30 Nonlinear and non-Hermitian dynamics with trapped ions and cavity QED

Speaker:
Prof Moonjoo Lee
Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)

Abstract:
We begin by discussing our experimental study of nonlinear mechanical oscillations in trapped ions. Specifically, we demonstrate the tunability of the Duffing nonlinearity of the ion oscillator, allowing it to transition from the softening to the hardening regime. Furthermore, when the ion velocity exceeds a critical threshold, we observe the formation of a phononic frequency comb in the ion’s motional spectrum. By analyzing the experimental data, we reconstruct the phase-space dynamics and the Poincaré map of the ion motion.

The next part focuses on theoretical work with non-Hermitian dynamics arising when a single ion or atom is coupled to an optical resonator. When the strength of coherent interaction balances the dissipation rate, second- or third-order exceptional points can emerge in the system. In addition, we show that introducing a nanotip into the mode of a Fabry-Perot-type resonator enables controlled tuning of the dissipation rate. This capability allows us to generate an exceptional line and realize a dissipation-induced topological transition, in which the exceptional point can be tuned solely through the control of dissipation.

Finally, we present our experiments with a chain of approximately 100 ions. The ions can be individually manipulated and cooled close to their motional ground state. We discuss experiments on phonon hopping in the ion chain, as well as measurements of both the local and global density of states.

12:00 → 14:00 Breaks: Lunch

Meals and breaks

14:00 → 14:30 Talks: Prof Taeyoung Choi (Ewha Womans University)

We are proud to host top ion-trapping experts from the region and around the world at the inaugural Asian Conference for Trapped Ions (ACTI).

14:00 Scalable and High-Fidelity Quantum Entanglement in Trapped-Ion Systems

Scalable and High-Fidelity Quantum Entanglement in Trapped-Ion Systems

Taeyoung Choi
Department of Physics, Ewha Womans University

Achieving high-fidelity and scalable entanglement is one of the central challenges in realizing quantum error correction and building a practical quantum computer. Among various physical platforms, trapped-ion systems have emerged as a particularly successful approach for precise control of quantum states, enabling high-fidelity single-qubit operations and two-qubit entangling gates for quantum computation and simulation.

In this talk, I will focus on the challenges of scaling up trapped-ion systems from both hardware and software perspectives, including increasing the number of qubits and improving gate performance through various modulation techniques. I will also introduce several ongoing research topics in our laboratory aimed at developing scalable and practical trapped-ion–based quantum processors.

14:30 → 15:00 Talks: Prof Atsushi Noguchi (The University of Tokyo & RIKEN)

We are proud to host top ion-trapping experts from the region and around the world at the inaugural Asian Conference for Trapped Ions (ACTI).

14:30 Superconducting ion traps

Superconducting ion traps

Speaker:
Prof Atsushi Noguchi
The University of Tokyo & RIKEN

Abstract:
Recent experiments in trapped-ion platforms have demonstrated two-qubit gate fidelities reaching 99.99% using RF-based quantum gates. Because gate fidelity directly determines the achievable performance and scalability of quantum computers, a central challenge is how to realize such ultra-high-fidelity gates in a scalable architecture. To enhance the scalability of RF-based gates, we employ high-Q resonators fabricated from superconducting thin films. A high-Q resonator effectively enhances the circulating current in the circuit, enabling the generation of large magnetic-field gradients at the ion position with high efficiency relative to the input drive power. This approach allows strong spin–motion coupling while significantly reducing the required microwave power. Furthermore, by integrating superconducting cavities, the RF voltages for ion trapping can be achieved with substantially lower input power, providing a pathway toward energy-efficient and scalable trapped-ion systems. In addition to presenting detailed results of our superconducting-resonator–based RF gate architecture, we will also discuss our ongoing efforts toward an alternative platform: an electron-trap quantum computer, in which single electrons are confined in vacuum and coupled to superconducting circuits. This hybrid approach opens new possibilities for compact, strongly coupled, and scalable quantum information processing.

15:00 → 15:30 Talks: Dr Cameron McGarry (University of Sydney)

We are proud to host top ion-trapping experts from the region and around the world at the inaugural Asian Conference for Trapped Ions (ACTI).

15:00 Programmable quantum simulation of anharmonic dynamics

Speaker:
Dr Cameron McGarry
University of Sydney

Abstract:
Continuous-variable–discrete-variable (CV–DV) quantum simulators offer a natural route to simulating bosonic dynamics relevant to many branches of physics and chemistry. However, programmable simulation of arbitrary dynamics is an outstanding challenge. In particular, simulating anharmonic dynamics, which is ubiquitous across the physical sciences, is challenging due to the highly harmonic nature of oscillators used in CV–DV simulators. Here, we experimentally demonstrate programmable CV–DV quantum simulation of anharmonic dynamics in a range of double-well potentials, implemented in a trapped-ion system. We synthesise the time-evolution operators using a bosonic-quantum-signal-processing subroutine, which allows the potential to be tuned between experiments by controlling classical experimental parameters. We observe coherent dynamics in various double-well potentials, where a wavepacket tunnels through the potential barrier, and we suppress this effect by programmatically introducing asymmetry.

16:00 → 17:30 Posters: Posters + Drinks

Tuesday 21 April

09:00 → 09:30 Talks: Prof Klaus Blaum (Max Planck Institute)

We are proud to host top ion-trapping experts from the region and around the world at the inaugural Asian Conference for Trapped Ions (ACTI).

09:00 Precision at the Extremes: Exploring the Standard Model with Trapped Exotic Ions

Precision at the Extremes: Exploring the Standard Model with Trapped Exotic Ions

Speaker:
Prof Klaus Blaum
Max Planck Institute

Abstract:
The four fundamental interactions and their symmetries, along with the fundamental constants and properties of elementary particles – such as masses and magnetic moments – form the foundational structure of the universe and underpin the well-tested Standard Model (SM) of particle physics. Conducting stringent tests of these interactions and symmetries under extreme conditions, at low energies and with the highest precision, for example by comparing particles and their counterparts, the antiparticles, allows us to probe for potential physics beyond the SM. Advancing these tests beyond their current limits requires the development of innovative experimental techniques.
This overview highlights recent technical advancements and measurements of atomic and nuclear masses, as well as 𝑔-factors, with unprecedented precision, performed on individual or a few cooled exotic ions stored in Penning traps. Notably, these experiments have among others enabled the most precise tests of bound-state quantum electrodynamics and have significantly improved the accuracy of several key fundamental constants.

09:30 → 10:00 Talks: Prof Kenji Toyoda (Osaka University)

We are proud to host top ion-trapping experts from the region and around the world at the inaugural Asian Conference for Trapped Ions (ACTI).

09:30 Coherence of local-phonon hopping in a trapped-ion string

Speaker:
Prof Kenji Toyoda
Osaka University

Abstract:
Vibrational excitations in trapped ions, or phonons, serve as useful
resources for quantum information processing, including quantum simulation and quantum computing. Localized excitations of the vibrational motion of individual ions (local phonons) offer both large information capacity and straightforward scalability, and can be used to simulate quantum particles propagating in a lattice. Hopping of local phonons, described by a hopping Hamiltonian, is an elementary process in such systems, and the coherence of local-phonon hopping is of central importance for applications based on this mechanism. Here we investigate local-phonon hopping and its coherence in the radial direction of a two-ion crystal. We experimentally observe the decay of phonon hopping as a function of the principal trap parameters and compare the results with numerically simulations. In the simulations we incorporate two main effects: residual thermal motion in the axial direction, which affects the dynamics through the nonlinearity of the Coulomb coupling, and electric-potential noise in the trapping environment. Incorporating these effects enables a quantitative comparison between the experimental observation and the numerical results.

10:00 → 10:30 Breaks: Coffee

Meals and breaks

10:30 → 11:00 Talks: Prof Sadiq Rangwala (Raman Research Institute)

We are proud to host top ion-trapping experts from the region and around the world at the inaugural Asian Conference for Trapped Ions (ACTI).

10:30 Prof Sadiq Rangwala (Raman Research Institute)

Speaker:
Prof Sadiq Rangwala
Raman Research Institute

Abstract:
TBC

11:00 → 11:30 Talks: Dr Piyaphat Phoonthong (National Institute of Metrology (Thailand))

We are proud to host top ion-trapping experts from the region and around the world at the inaugural Asian Conference for Trapped Ions (ACTI).

11:00 Evaluating Excess Micromotion in an Asymmetric Segmented Trap for Ytterbium Optical Clocks

Speaker:
Dr Piyaphat Phoonthong
National Institute of Metrology (Thailand)

Abstract:
In this work, we present an evaluation of excess micromotion within a linear, asymmetric segmented Paul trap developed at the National Institute of Metrology, Thailand (NIMT). To characterize the micromotion amplitude, we employ the photon correlation method, which utilizes the correlation between the ion's fluorescence and the trap's RF drive phase to quantify the underlying stray electric field. Following the systematic compensation of these stray fields, we evaluate the resulting frequency shifts on the 435-nm electric-quadrupole clock transition in 171Yb+. Our results demonstrate a second-order Doppler shift contribution of -1.2(8)x10-18, successfully validating both the trap's performance and the effectiveness of our compensation.

11:30 → 12:00 Talks: Prof Subhasis Panja (CSIR-National Physical laboratory)

We are proud to host top ion-trapping experts from the region and around the world at the inaugural Asian Conference for Trapped Ions (ACTI).

11:30 Ytterbium ion based Optical Clock: Possible way for Redefining SI Second

Ytterbium ion based Optical Clock: Possible way for Redefining SI Second

Speaker:
Prof Subhasis Panja
CSIR-National Physical laboratory
Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research

Abstract:
Present definition of time and frequency is based on a microwave transition of laser cooled Cesium atoms. The variance of the measurement “Allan Deviation” is inversely proportional to the resonance frequency, so an optical frequency standard at resonance frequency of few hundred THz is two to three orders of magnitude more accurate than a microwave frequency standard. It is expected that the definition of the SI unit of time will be redefined with an optical clock either based on the atomic transition of ultra-cold atoms confined within Optical lattices or a single ion trapped and laser cooled within a radio frequency ion trap.

At CSIR-NPL we are working towards building an optical frequency standard based on an quadrupole transition of single Ytterbium ion, stored in a Paul trap inside of an ultra-high vacuum. Ion confined within the rf trap will be cooled to micro-Kelvin temperature using laser cooling technique to restrict motion of the ions within the Lamb-Dicke regime.

A narrow bandwidth and high voltage radiofrequency (RF) is an essential requirement for trapping ions within a quadrupole ion trap, commonly known as Paul Trap. Delivery of high voltage RF to the trap electrodes is usually done through a helical resonator as it allows impedance matching for efficient power transfer with very high quality factor (Q). A simple and efficient method has been adopted for tracking the dynamic resonant frequency of the helical resonator by monitoring its reflected signal, as the strength of the reflected signal will be minimum at its resonance. The strong transition at 369.5 nm being used for laser cooling of 171Yb+ ions. However, in this case the excited state decays to the two different metastable states. So two repump laser at 935 nm and 760 nm will be utilized for depleting the long lived metastable states and to achieve close looped laser cooling. So we need three lasers at different frequencies for laser cooling itself. For the clock operation we need to measure the transition at 435 nm which has natural linewidth few Hz. For line narrowing of the laser we take help of a highly stabilized Fabry-Perrot cavity. The cavity of Finesse 50000 and free spectral range 1.5 GHz and made of ultra-low expansion progress towards developing the optical atomic clock based on the interrogation of 171Yb+ ion at CSIR-NPL, New Delhi.

---

1. N. Batra, S. Panja, S. De, A. Roy, S. Majhi, S. Yadav, and A. Sen Gupta, “MAPAN – Journal of Metrology Society of India, 32, 3, September 2017, pp. 193-198, doi: 10.1007/s12647-017-0209-5.
2. L Sharma, H. Rathore, S. Utreja, Neelam, A. Roy, S. De and S. Panja
   MAPAN-Journal of Metrology Society of India 35 (2020) 531-540
   doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12647-020-00397-y

12:00 → 14:00 Breaks: Lunch

Meals and breaks

14:00 → 14:30 Talks: Dr Kyle Arnold (Centre for Quantum Technologies, NUS)

We are proud to host top ion-trapping experts from the region and around the world at the inaugural Asian Conference for Trapped Ions (ACTI).

14:00 Validating 176Lu+ Optical Frequency References at the 10-19 level

Validating $\bf ^{176}$Lu$\bf ^{+}$ Optical Frequency References at the $\bf{10^{-19}}$ level

K. J. Arnold,∗ M. D. K. Lee, Qin Qichen, Qi Zhao, Zhao Zhang, and N. Jayjong
Centre for Quantum Technologies, NUS

M. D. Barrett
Centre for Quantum Technologies, NUS and Department of Physics, NUS

The $^{176}\text{Lu}^+$ $^1\text{S}_0 \rightarrow {}^3\text{D}_1$ transition serves as a robust frequency reference due to its low sensitivity to blackbody radiation and electromagnetic perturbations, allowing for high-accuracy operation at room temperature without extensive shielding [1]. Building on recent advances in micromotion control [2], quadrupole shift assessment [3], and studies of background gas collision effects [4], we report a comprehensive evaluation of two independent $^{176}\text{Lu}^+$ single-ion optical frequency references, achieving total systematic uncertainties of $1.1 \times 10^{-19}$ and $1.4 \times 10^{-19}$ [5]. The two systems were directly compared using correlation spectroscopy with Ramsey times of up to 10 seconds, yielding a measurement instability of $4.8 \times 10^{-16}(\tau/s)^{-1/2}$. After 200 hours of averaging, the clocks demonstrated a relative frequency agreement of $[-2.4 \pm (5.7)_{\text{stat}} \pm (1.0)_{\text{sys}}] \times 10^{-19}$ [5]. While other individual clocks have reported assessed uncertainties below $10^{-18}$, this work represents the first demonstrated agreement of optical clock performance with total uncertainty below this level. These results open the way for new applications in millimeter-scale relativistic geodesy and tests of fundamental physics at the $10^{-19}$ frontier of accuracy.

---

[1] K. Arnold, R. Kaewuam, A. Roy, T. Tan, and M. Barrett,
Nature communications 9 (2018).

[2] K. Arnold, N. Jayjong, M. Kang, Q. Qichen, Z. Zhang,
Q. Zhao, and M. Barrett, Physical Review A 110, 033115
(2024).

[3] M. Lee, Q. Zhao, Q. Qichen, Z. Zhang, N. Jayjong,
K. Arnold, and M. Barrett, Physical Review A 113,
012805 (2026).

[4] M. Barrett and K. Arnold, arXiv preprint
arXiv:2512.05474 (2025).

[5] K. Arnold, M. Lee, Z. Qi, Q. Qin, Z. Zhao, N. Jayjong,
and M. Barrett, arXiv preprint arXiv:2512.07346 (2025).

14:30 → 15:00 Talks: Dr Yong Wan (University of Science and Technology of China)

We are proud to host top ion-trapping experts from the region and around the world at the inaugural Asian Conference for Trapped Ions (ACTI).

14:30 Dr Yong Wan (University of Science and Technology of China)

Speaker:
Dr Yong Wan
University of Science and Technology of China

Abstract:
TBC

15:00 → 15:30 Talks: Dr Sourav Dutta (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR))

We are proud to host top ion-trapping experts from the region and around the world at the inaugural Asian Conference for Trapped Ions (ACTI).

15:00 Hour-scale lifetime and non-equilibrium steady state of trapped ions in an ultracold atom-ion hybrid trap

Hour-scale lifetime and non-equilibrium steady state of trapped ions in an ultracold atom-ion hybrid trap

Speaker:
Dr Sourav Dutta
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR)

Abstract:
Hybrid atom-ion systems offer unique opportunities for ultracold chemistry, precision measurements, and quantum simulation; but prolonged trapping of non-laser-coolable ions (the vast majority of atomic and molecular species of interest) remains challenging due to rapid losses due to rf heating and background collisions. We demonstrate ion lifetimes more than 80 minutes in a linear Paul trap by cooling ensembles of Cs⁺ ions with ultracold Cs atoms, thus realizing the long-lived regime for ions ensembles that cannot be laser cooled. We report a genuine attracting fixed point in the hybrid system: ion number converges to the same steady state population independent of the initial number of ions. The results open a pathway towards sympathetic cooling of complex species and facilitate studies of rare reactions and driven dissipative systems.

16:00 → 17:30 Posters: Poster + Drinks

18:00 → 19:00 Evening Program: Evening Talk - Dr. Anthony “Tony” Ransford (Quantinuum)

18:00 Helios: A 98-qubit trapped-ion quantum computer

Speaker:
Dr. Anthony “Tony” Ransford
Quantinuum

Abstract:

• Trapped-ion quantum processors provide a leading platform for quantum computation due to their high-fidelity operations and reconfigurable connectivity. Scaling system size while maintaining uniform performance, however, remains a central challenge for realizing fault-tolerant quantum computation. We present Helios, a 98-qubit trapped-ion quantum computer based on an advanced quantum charge-coupled device (QCCD) architecture designed to combine novel ion transport with high-precision quantum control.
• Helios utilizes hyperfine qubits encoded in 137Ba+ ions and integrates multiple quantum operation regions connected through a junction transport network and rotatable storage ring, enabling flexible ion rearrangement and all-to-all connectivity.
• System characterization demonstrates average single-qubit gate fidelity of 2.5(1)×10−5, two-qubit gate fidelity of 7.9(2)×10−4 ,and state-preparation-and-measurement (SPAM) error of 7.9(2)×10−4, maintained across operational zones. These performance levels support deep circuit execution together with mid-circuit measurement and feedforward required for quantum error correction.
• Beyond the component level benchmarks, system level benchmarks including mirror benchmarking, binary randomized benchmarking and random circuit sampling are characterized. We show that simulating the results of the random circuit sampling is far beyond the ability of modern supercomputers.
• These results demonstrate that the QCCD approach enables simultaneous scaling of qubit number and operational fidelity, establishing a practical pathway toward large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computing with trapped ions.

---

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Anthony “Tony” Ransford is the lead architect of Helios, responsible for leading the team that brought the world's most powerful quantum computer to life. Dr. Ransford’s work spans the full stack of quantum hardware design and integration, driving the development of our scalable system architecture through ever increasing heights in fidelity. Dr. Ransford has seen Quantinuum’s journey through 4 QPUs, from our first commercial system with just 4 qubits through our latest design Helios. His leadership has directly contributed to Quantinuum’s leadership in fidelity and computational power and now is leading the archicture of Lumos, a future 1M qubit system at Quantinuum. Prior to joining Quantinuum, Dr. Ransford earned his PHD at U.C.L.A, focusing on high fidelity qubit manipulation.

19:00 → 21:30 Evening Program: Conference Dinner (Sponsored by Quantinuum)

Wednesday 22 April

09:00 → 09:30 Talks: Prof Taehyun Kim (Seoul National University)

We are proud to host top ion-trapping experts from the region and around the world at the inaugural Asian Conference for Trapped Ions (ACTI).

09:00 Prof Taehyun Kim (Seoul National University)

Speaker:
Prof Taehyun Kim
Seoul National University

Abstract:
TBC

09:30 → 10:00 Talks: Prof Junki Kim (Sungkyunkwan University)

We are proud to host top ion-trapping experts from the region and around the world at the inaugural Asian Conference for Trapped Ions (ACTI).

09:30 Architecting Scalable Quantum Computers with Ion Shuttling

Speaker:
Prof Junki Kim
Sungkyunkwan University

Abstract:
There has been significant progress in building trapped-ion quantum computers with dozens of ion qubits; however, a clear blueprint for a fully fault-tolerant, large-scale system remains elusive. In this talk, I present a Shuttling-based Distributed Quantum Computing (SDQC) architecture that combines deterministic qubit shuttling with distributed entanglement to interconnect multiple processor nodes while keeping data qubits stationary. Through comprehensive architecture-level modeling with realistic error and timing assumptions, we show that SDQC enables near scale-independent logical clock speeds via aggressive pipelining and achieves competitive logical error rates under fault-tolerant operation compared to conventional QCCD and photonic distributed approaches in large-scale regimes. We further assess application-level performance, including QLDPC problem and Fermi–Hubbard simulations, demonstrating efficient execution in terms of overall runtime and success probability with moderate space–time overhead. These results highlight the critical role of architectural co-design in shaping the scalability and practical performance of future large-scale ion-trap quantum computers.
[1] S. Baek, S.-H. Lee, D. Min, and J. Kim, arXiv:2512.02890

10:00 → 10:30 Breaks: Coffee

Meals and breaks

10:30 → 11:00 Talks: Prof Manoj Joshi (IQOQI Innsbruck & Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD))

We are proud to host top ion-trapping experts from the region and around the world at the inaugural Asian Conference for Trapped Ions (ACTI).

10:30 Quantum Simulation and Lindbladian Learning on a Trapped-Ion Quantum Simulator

Speaker:
Prof Manoj Joshi
IQOQI Innsbruck & Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)

Abstract:
Quantum simulators and quantum computers are progressing toward solving complex problems in science. Trapped ions are one of the key platforms, offering unprecedented qubit control. At this conference, I will present recent advancements in quantum simulation using long ion chains in a radio-frequency trap in Innsbruck. In particular, I will discuss Hamiltonian and Liouvillian learning (Lindbladian learning) techniques used to quantitatively validate experimentally implemented Hamiltonians in trapped-ion systems. For this purpose, a broad set of ansatz terms is incorporated into the analysis to identify the Hamiltonian that best captures the observed dynamics. Once the optimal candidate is determined, statistical noise and estimation bias are carefully analyzed to obtain reliable estimates of the Hamiltonian parameters. These studies are carried out on a trapped-ion quantum simulator consisting of ion strings with up to N=51 ions. I will also present a practical perspective on Hamiltonian learning methods and their role in establishing trust in analog quantum simulations. Furthermore, I will discuss potential future research directions for my group in Singapore using trapped ions.

11:00 → 11:30 Talks: Dr Pei Jiang Low (Centre for Quantum Technologies, NUS)

We are proud to host top ion-trapping experts from the region and around the world at the inaugural Asian Conference for Trapped Ions (ACTI).

11:00 Towards a full stack quantum computer based on trapped ion platform

Speaker:
Dr Pei Jiang Low
Centre for Quantum Technologies, NUS

Abstract:
Trapped ion quantum computing features advantages such as good gate fidelities, all-to-all qubit connectivity and the ability to operate in room temperature over other quantum computing platforms. Conventionally, trapped ion quantum computers are built in a laser lab environment, where the hardware setup takes up a large space – typically spanning one or multiple optical tables, which one may argue is one of the downsides of the trapped ion platform. In this work, we engineer a compact and modular trapped ion quantum computer setup that is rack-mountable to a standard 19-inch rack. This makes the size of the quantum machine compatible with high-performance computing (HPC) facilities. In this talk, I will present the features and the engineering work of our quantum machine. In addition, I will also present a preliminary study of a new method for improving quantum measurement performance with barium ions, which eliminates the noise from background scattering of lasers.

11:30 → 12:00 Talks: Nigel Lee (Centre for Quantum Technologies, NUS)

We are proud to host top ion-trapping experts from the region and around the world at the inaugural Asian Conference for Trapped Ions (ACTI).

11:30 Bosonic Non-linearity with Trapped Ions

Speaker:
Nigel Lee
Centre for Quantum Technologies, NUS

Abstract:
Mechanical oscillators represented by the bosonic motional modes of trapped ions are a promising candidate to realize continuous-variable quantum information processing. However, universal control of these modes require non-linear operations, such as cubic phase gates, which are challenging to implement on trapped ions. Here, we report the experimental implementation of the approximate cubic phase gate evolution by applying a series of spin dependent displacement pulses to a single mode of motion [1].

[1] K. Park and R. Filip, npj Quantum Inf 10 (2024).

This project is supported by the National Research Foundation, Singapore through the National Quantum Office, hosted in A*STAR, under its Centre for Quantum Technologies Funding Initiative (S24Q2d0009) and Quantum Engineering Programme (NRF2021-QEP2-02-P08).

12:00 → 14:00 Post-Conference: Lab Visits

12:00 → 14:00 Post-Conference: Singapore Sightseeing Visits