Project 20: Trapped ions excited to Rydberg states

Summary

Joining control and readout of spins in trapped ion Coulomb crystals and giant dipolar interactions by Rydberg excitations appears to open unique experimental opportunities: One is combining the long-range Rydberg blockade mechanism, as demonstrated in the case of neutral atoms with the superb level of control over single ion quantum states achieved in Paul traps. In Mainz, we have started an experimental project with the goal of establishing the novel platform of Rydberg excitations in trapped Calcium ions. Main goal are novel type of quantum gate operations employing the Rydberg interactions, a design of vibrational normal modes of the ion crystal taking advantage of the large polarizability of the ion in the Rydberg state, and the observation of exceptionally strong coupling between electronic and vibrational dynamics.

For details on this research project and for a list of publication, see quantenbit.de

Figure 1: Calcium ions trapped in a Paul trap in form of a planar crystal and imaged via their fluorescence.

Figure 2: Multi-segmented linear Paul trap fabricated for Rydberg excitation of trapped ions.

People

Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Schmidt-Kaler, Quanten-, Atom- und Neutronenphysik (QUANTUM), Institut für Physik, Universität Mainz

Prof. Dr. Jochen Walz, Quanten-, Atom- und Neutronenphysik (QUANTUM), Institut für Physik, Universität Mainz