Efficient Autoionization and Ion Trap Loading of ¹³³Ba⁺

The ¹³³Ba⁺ trapped ion qubit provides many advantageous qualities for trapped ion quantum technology, including nuclear spin I=1/2, visible wavelength cooling transitions, and a long lived (τ =30 s) metastable D5/2 state. This also makes it the ideal candidate to implement the omg (optical-metastable-ground) architecture that utilizes three qubits in a single atom. However due to its low abundance, scaling technology utilizing this ion requires highly efficient photoionization. We present advances in the photoionization and loading of barium trapped ions. We will highlight a novel scheme for two step photoionization through the 5d6p³D₁ level to multiple autoionizing states. This resonant photoionization technique allows for isotope selective ionization of low abundance barium isotopes.