Using a Trapped-Ion Simulator to Explore Mesoscopic Systems with Individual Atom Resolution

使用俘获离子模拟器探索具有单个原子分辨率的介观系统

• 批准号: RGPIN-2016-05821
• 负责人: Haljan, Paul
• 金额: $ 1.97万
• 依托单位: Simon Fraser University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=709287
• 关键词: Using; Trapped; Ion; Simulator; Explore

Experiments with small arrays of laser-cooled trapped ions have demonstrated an impressive number of technical achievements towards the ultimate goal of large scale quantum information processing. At the heart of these achievements are ion-trap, laser, and other technologies that deliver exquisite control over experimental parameters at the level of single atoms. Taking advantage of these technologies, we aim to use the interactions between ions - derived from their Coulomb repulsion together with the trap and other applied electromagnetic fields - to investigate many-body physics with a flavor reminiscent of familiar models in condensed matter. Our investigations focus on the linear-zigzag structural phase transition in laser-cooled and trapped arrays of Ytterbium ions. The second-order nature of this transition, and the relative simplicity with which it can be controlled within an experimental setup, make for a fascinating testbed to investigate mesoscopic phase transitions in both the classical and quantum regimes, nonlinear dynamics, and non-equilibrium statistical mechanics. We plan a test of the Kibble-Zurek mechanism for topological defect formation that improves upon prior experiments by our group and others for quenches across the linear-zigzag transition. We also plan to strike out in new directions, to investigate an ion crystal near the structural transition as a tunable model of heat transport in low-dimensional systems, and to investigate the transition at ultralow temperatures corresponding to a few quanta or less of thermal energy. In the latter case, our goal is to take advantage of the double-well potential that develops near the transition to control tunneling between the two zigzag structures of an ion crystal, realizing a tunable mesoscopic system reminiscent of the ammonia molecule. Be it for fundamental tests of quantum mechanics or for the investigation of dynamics in model materials, this program aims to push the limits of experimental control of trapped ions. In doing so, the techniques enabled by this grant will have an impact in the associated area of trapped-ion quantum technology, and indeed wherever quantum mechanical manipulation of information is being investigated, such as the areas of quantum information processing, nanotechnology, and materials research.

小型激光冷却捕获离子阵列的实验已经展示了在实现大规模量子信息处理的最终目标方面取得的大量技术成果。这些成就的核心是离子阱、激光和其他技术，它们可以在单原子水平上对实验参数进行精确控制。利用这些技术，我们的目标是利用离子之间的相互作用（源于它们的库仑斥力以及陷阱和其他应用电磁场）来研究多体物理学，其味道让人想起熟悉的凝聚态物质模型。 我们的研究重点是激光冷却和捕获镱离子阵列中的线性锯齿形结构相变。这种转变的二阶性质，以及在实验装置中控制它的相对简单性，为研究经典和量子体系、非线性动力学和非平衡统计力学中的介观相变提供了一个令人着迷的测试平台。我们计划对拓扑缺陷形成的 Kibble-Zurek 机制进行测试，该测试改进了我们小组和其他人之前针对线性锯齿形转变进行淬火的实验。我们还计划开拓新的方向，研究结构转变附近的离子晶体作为低维系统中热传输的可调模型，并研究对应于几个量子或更少热能的超低温下的转变。在后一种情况下，我们的目标是利用过渡附近产生的双阱势来控制离子晶体的两个锯齿形结构之间的隧道效应，实现类似于氨分子的可调谐介观系统。 无论是量子力学的基础测试还是模型材料动力学的研究，该计划都旨在突破捕获离子实验控制的极限。在此过程中，这笔资助所支持的技术将对俘获离子量子技术的相关领域产生影响，实际上，在任何正在研究信息的量子力学操纵的地方，例如量子信息处理、纳米技术和材料研究领域，都会产生影响。