40 research outputs found
Toward Spin Squeezing with Trapped Ions
Building robust instruments capable of making interferometric measurements
with precision beyond the standard quantum limit remains an important goal in
many metrology laboratories. We describe here the basic concepts underlying
spin squeezing experiments that allow one to surpass this limit. In priniciple
it is possible to reach the so-called Heisenberg limit, which constitutes an
improvement in precision by a factor , where is the number of
particles on which the measurement is carried out. In particular, we focus on
recent progress toward implementing spin squeezing with a cloud of beryllium
ions in a Penning ion trap, via the geometric phase gate used more commonly for
performing two-qubit entangling operations in quantum computing experiments.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures, Contribution to Quantum Africa 2010 conference
proceeding
Simulating Quantum Magnetism with Correlated Non-Neutral Ion Plasmas
By employing forces that depend on the internal electronic state (or spin) of
an atomic ion, the Coulomb potential energy of a strongly coupled array of ions
can be modified in a spin-dependent way to mimic effective quantum spin
Hamiltonians. Both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions can be
implemented. We use simple models to explain how the effective spin
interactions are engineered with trapped-ion crystals. We summarize the type of
effective spin interactions that can be readily generated, and discuss an
experimental implementation using single-plane ion crystals in a Penning trap.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, to be published in the Proceedings of 10th
International Workshop on Non-Neutral Plasma
Phase-coherent detection of an optical dipole force by Doppler velocimetry
We report phase-coherent Doppler detection of optical dipole forces using
large ion crystals in a Penning trap. The technique is based on laser Doppler
velocimetry using a cycling transition in Be near 313 nm and the
center-of-mass (COM) ion motional mode. The optical dipole force is tuned to
excite the COM mode, and measurements of photon arrival times synchronized with
the excitation potential show oscillations with a period commensurate with the
COM motional frequency. Experimental results compare well with a quantitative
model for a driven harmonic oscillator. This technique permits characterization
of motional modes in ion crystals; the measurement of both frequency and phase
information relative to the driving force is a key enabling capability --
comparable to lockin detection -- providing access to a parameter that is
typically not available in time-averaged measurements. This additional
information facilitates discrimination of nearly degenerate motional modes.Comment: Related manuscripts at http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~mbiercuk