70 research outputs found
Quantum state manipulation of trapped atomic ions
A single laser-cooled and trapped 9Be+ ion is used to investigate methods of
coherent quantum-state synthesis and quantum logic. We create and characterize
nonclassical states of motion including "Schroedinger-cat" states. A
fundamental quantum logic gate is realized which uses two states of the
quantized ion motion and two ion internal states as qubits. We explore some of
the applications for, and problems in realizing, quantum computation based on
multiple trapped ions.Comment: Postscript only. 21 pages text, 5 figures., Proc. Workshop on Quantum
Computing, Santa Barbara, CA, Dec. 1996, Submitted to Proc. Roy. Soc.
Observation of power-law scaling for phase transitions in linear trapped ion crystals
We report an experimental confirmation of the power-law relationship between
the critical anisotropy parameter and ion number for the linear-to-zigzag phase
transition in an ionic crystal. Our experiment uses laser cooled calcium ions
confined in a linear radio-frequency trap. Measurements for up to 10 ions are
in good agreement with theoretical and numeric predictions. Implications on an
upper limit to the size of data registers in ion trap quantum computers are
discussed.Comment: Physical Review Letters in press, 4 pages, 4 figure
Quantum control of Sr in a miniature linear Paul trap
We report on the construction and characterization of an apparatus for
quantum information experiments using Sr ions. A miniature linear
radio-frequency (rf) Paul trap was designed and built. Trap frequencies above 1
MHz in all directions are obtained with 50 V on the trap end-caps and less than
1 W of rf power. We encode a quantum bit (qubit) in the two spin states of the
electronic ground-state of the ion. We constructed all the necessary
laser sources for laser cooling and full coherent manipulation of the ions'
external and internal states. Oscillating magnetic fields are used for coherent
spin rotations. High-fidelity readout as well as a coherence time of 2.5 ms are
demonstrated. Following resolved sideband cooling the average axial vibrational
quanta of a single trapped ion is and a heating rate of
ms is measured.Comment: 8 pages,9 figure
The theory of heating of the quantum ground state of trapped ions
Using a displacement operator formalism, I analyse the depopulation of the
vibrational ground state of trapped ions. Two heating times, one characterizing
short time behaviour, the other long time behaviour are found. The short time
behaviour is analyzed both for single and multiple ions, and a formula for the
relative heating rates of different modes is derived. The possibility of
correction of heating via the quantum Zeno effect, and the exploitation of the
suppression of heating of higher modes to reduce errors in quantum computation
is considered.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figure
An efficient scheme for the deterministic maximal entanglement of N trapped ions
We propose a method for generating maximally entangled states of N two-level
trapped ions. The method is deterministic and independent of the number of ions
in the trap. It involves a controlled-NOT acting simultaneously on all the ions
through a dispersive interaction. We explore the potential application of our
scheme for high precision frequency standards.Comment: 4 pages, no figures, submitted to PRL, under review, Revised Version:
Incorporated referee comment
Destabilization of dark states and optical spectroscopy in Zeeman-degenerate atomic systems
We present a general discussion of the techniques of destabilizing dark
states in laser-driven atoms with either a magnetic field or modulated laser
polarization. We show that the photon scattering rate is maximized at a
particular evolution rate of the dark state. We also find that the atomic
resonance curve is significantly broadened when the evolution rate is far from
this optimum value. These results are illustrated with detailed examples of
destabilizing dark states in some commonly-trapped ions and supported by
insights derived from numerical calculations and simple theoretical models.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figure
Motional sidebands and direct measurement of the cooling rate in the resonance fluorescence of a single trapped ion
Resonance fluorescence of a single trapped ion is spectrally analyzed using a
heterodyne technique. Motional sidebands due to the oscillation of the ion in
the harmonic trap potential are observed in the fluorescence spectrum. From the
width of the sidebands the cooling rate is obtained and found to be in
agreement with the theoretical prediction.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. Final version after minor changes, 1 figure
replaced; to be published in PRL, July 10, 200
Broadband laser cooling of trapped atoms with ultrafast pulses
We demonstrate broadband laser cooling of atomic ions in an rf trap using
ultrafast pulses from a modelocked laser. The temperature of a single ion is
measured by observing the size of a time-averaged image of the ion in the known
harmonic trap potential. While the lowest observed temperature was only about 1
K, this method efficiently cools very hot atoms and can sufficiently localize
trapped atoms to produce near diffraction-limited atomic images
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