Towards a new quantum system: Electron guiding in a microwave potential

We investigate a miniaturized planar ac-quadrupole guide (linear Paul trap) to confine electrons transversely and guide them longitudinally along microwave electrodes on a microfabricated chip. In combination with a single-atom tip electron emitter, which has been shown to be a perfect point source of electrons, we are aiming at direct injection of electrons into the quantum mechanical ground state of the transverse trapping potential (without the need for cooling). The quantum mechanical states of the transverse harmonic potential could be used as carrier of quantum information in a wholly new quantum device.