Mitigating electric and magnetic noise to enhance performance of a universal ion-based quantum computer*

Robust trapped ion quantum computers can be used to simulate numerous quantum phenomena and many-body physics systems, explore quantum error correction codes and noise models, and investigate challenges regarding scaling. Here, we present progress on building a state-of-the-art machine with full control of up to 32 ¹⁷¹Yb⁺ ion qubits. We mitigate sources of electric field noise that affect the heating of motion and thereby our gate fidelity. We also built an enclosure for magnetic and acoustic shielding of the system. We discuss the electrical and magnetic field noise effect on the system performance leading to improved T₂ time and lower heating rates. These performance upgrades should lead to better fidelity gates and expand the complexity of physics that we can simulate with our quantum processor.