Control of the conformations of ion Coulomb crystals in a Penning trap

Sandeep Mavadia, Joseph F. Goodwin, Graham Stutter, Shailen Bharadia, Daniel R. Crick, Daniel M. Segal and Richard C. Thompson ()
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Sandeep Mavadia: QOLS Group, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
Joseph F. Goodwin: QOLS Group, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
Graham Stutter: QOLS Group, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
Shailen Bharadia: QOLS Group, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
Daniel R. Crick: QOLS Group, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
Daniel M. Segal: QOLS Group, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
Richard C. Thompson: QOLS Group, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK

Nature Communications, 2013, vol. 4, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Laser-cooled atomic ions form ordered structures in radiofrequency ion traps and in Penning traps. Here we demonstrate in a Penning trap the creation and manipulation of a wide variety of ion Coulomb crystals formed from small numbers of ions. The configuration can be changed from a linear string, through intermediate geometries, to a planar structure. The transition from a linear string to a zigzag geometry is observed for the first time in a Penning trap. The conformations of the crystals are set by the applied trap potential and the laser parameters, and agree with simulations. These simulations indicate that the rotation frequency of a small crystal is mainly determined by the laser parameters, independent of the number of ions and the axial confinement strength. This system has potential applications for quantum simulation, quantum information processing and tests of fundamental physics models from quantum field theory to cosmology.

Date: 2013
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3571

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