Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:1105.0598 · New Journal of Physics

Simulation of quantum magnetism in mixed-spin systems with impurity-doped ion crystals

Peter A. Ivanov, Ferdinand Schmidt‐Kaler

Published Dec 9, 2011• 13 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We propose the realization of linear crystals of cold ions that contain different atomic species for investigating quantum phase transitions and frustration effects in spin systems beyond the commonly considered case of . Mutual spin–spin interactions between ions can be tailored via the Zeeman effect by applying oscillating magnetic fields with strong gradients. Further, collective vibrational modes in the mixed ion crystal can be used to enhance and to vary the strength of spin–spin interactions and even to switch the nature of the interacting forces from a ferro- to an antiferromagnetic character. We consider the behavior of the effective spin–spin couplings in an ion crystal of spin-1/2 ions doped with high-magnetic-moment ions with spin S = 3. We analyze the ground state phase diagram and find regions with different spin orders including ferrimagnetic states. In the most simple nontrivial example, we deal with a linear {Ca + ,Mn + ,Ca + } crystal with spins of . To demonstrate feasibility with current state-of-the-art experiments, we discuss how quantum phases might be detected using a collective Stern–Gerlach effect of the ion crystal and high-resolution spectroscopy. Here, the state-dependent laser-induced fluorescence of the indicator spin-1/2 ion, of species 40 Ca + , is used to reveal also the spin state of the simulator spin-3 ions, 50 Mn + , which does not possess suitable levels for optical excitation and detection.

DOI
10.1088/1367-2630/13/12/125008

Related papers

Quantum simulation of spin models on an arbitrary lattice with trapped ions

S. É. Korenblit, Dvir Kafri, Wesley C. Campbell +8 more

A collection of trapped atomic ions represents one of the most attractive platforms for the quantum simulation of interacting spin networks and quantum magnetism. Spin-dependent optical dipole forces applied to an ion crystal create long-range effective spin–spin interactions and allow the simulation of spin Hamiltonians that possess nontrivial phases and dynamics. Here we show how the appropriate design of laser fields can provide for arbitrary multidimensional spin–spin interaction graphs even for the case of a linear spatial array of ions. This scheme uses currently available trap technology and is scalable to levels where the classical methods of simulation are intractable.

arXiv:1201.0776•New Journal of Physics•Sep 27, 2012•139 citations

Quantum simulation of superexchange magnetism in linear ion crystals

Peter A. Ivanov, Naoum Karchev, Nikolay V. Vitanov +1 more

We present a system for the simulation of Heisenberg models with spins $s=1/2$ and $s=1$ with a linear crystal of trapped ions. We show that the laser-ion interaction induces a Jaynes-Cummings-Hubbard interaction between the atomic $\mathsf{V}$-type level structure and the two phonon species. In the strong-coupling regime the collective atom and phonon excitations become localized at each lattice site and form an effective spin system with varying length. We show that the quantum-mechanical superexchange interaction caused by the second-order phonon hopping processes creates a Heisenberg-type coupling between the individual spins. Trapped ions allow control of the superexchange interactions by adjusting the trapping frequencies, the laser intensity, and the detuning.

arXiv:1405.6071•Physical Review A•Jul 17, 2014•3 citations

Quantum Simulation of Interacting Spin Models with Trapped Ions

Kazi Rajibul Islam

The quantum simulation of complex many body systems holds promise for understanding the origin of emergent properties of strongly correlated systems, such as high-Tc superconductors and spin liquids. Cold atomic systems provide an almost ideal platform for quantum simulation due to their excellent quantum coherence, initialization and readout properties, and their ability to support several forms of interactions. In this thesis, I present experiments on the quantum simulation of long range Ising models in the presence of transverse magnetic fields with a chain of up to sixteen ultracold 171-Yb+ ions trapped in a linear radio frequency Paul trap. Two hyperfine levels in each of the 171-Yb+ ions serve as the spin-1/2 systems. We detect the spin states of the individual ions by observing state-dependent fluorescence with single site resolution, and can directly measure any possible spin correlation function. The spin-spin interactions are engineered by applying dipole forces from precisely tuned lasers whose beatnotes induce stimulated Raman transitions that couple virtually to collective phonon modes of the ion motion. The Ising couplings are controlled, both in sign and strength with respect to the effective transverse field, and adiabatically manipulated to study various aspects of this spin model, such as the emergence of a quantum phase transition in the ground state and spin frustration due to competing antiferromagnetic interactions. Spin frustration often gives rise to a massive degeneracy in the ground state, which can lead to entanglement in the spin system. We detect and characterize this frustration induced entanglement in a system of three spins, demonstrating the first direct experimental connection between frustration and entanglement. With larger numbers of spins we also vary the range of the antiferromagnetic couplings through appropriate laser tunings and observe that longer range interactions reduce the excitation energy and thereby frustrate the ground state order. This system can potentially be scaled up to study a wide range of fully connected spin networks with a few dozens of spins, where the underlying theory becomes intractable on a classical computer.

•Jan 1, 2012•6 citations

Quantum simulations of the Ising model with trapped ions: Devil's staircase and arbitrary lattice proposal

S. É. Korenblit

A collection of trapped atomic ions represents one of the most attractive platforms for the quantum simulation of interacting spin networks and quantum magnetism. Spin-dependent optical dipole forces applied to an ion crystal create long-range eective spin-spin interactions and allow the simulation of spin Hamiltonians that possess nontrivial phases and dynamics. We trap linear chains of 171Yb+ ions in a Paul trap, and constrain the occupation of energy levels to the ground hyperne clock-states, creating a qubit or pseudo-spin 1/2 system. We proceed to implement spin-spin couplings between two ions using the far detuned Mlmer-Srenson scheme and perform adiabatic quantum simulations of Ising Hamiltonians with long-range couplings. We then demonstrate our ability to control the sign and relative strength of the interaction between three ions. Using this control, we simulate a frustrated triangular lattice, and for the first time establish an experimental connection between frustration and quantum entanglement. We then scale up our simulation to show phase transitions from paramagnetism to ferromagnetism for nine ions, and to anti-ferromagnetism for sixteen ions. The experimental work culminates with our most complicated Hamiltonian - a long range anti-ferromagnetic Ising interaction between 10 ions with a biasing axial field. Theoretical work presented in this thesis shows how the approach to quantum simulation utilized in this thesis can be further extended and improved. It is shown how appropriate design of laser elds can provide for arbitrary multidimensional spin-spin interaction graphs even for the case of a linear spatial array of ions. This scheme uses currently existing trap technology and is scalable to levels where classical methods of simulation are intractable.

•Jan 1, 2013•0 citations

Quantum simulation with Rydberg ions in a Penning trap

Wilson S. Martins, Markus Hennrich, Ferdinand Schmidt-Kaler +1 more

Quantum simulation of interacting many-body spin systems is routinely performed with cold trapped ions, and systems with hundreds of spins have been studied in one and two dimensions. In the most common realizations of these platforms, spin degrees of freedom are encoded in low-lying electronic levels, and interactions among the spins are mediated through crystal vibrations. Here we propose a new approach which enables the quantum simulation of two-dimensional spin systems with interaction strengths that are increased by orders of magnitude. This, together with the unprecedented longevity of trapped ions, opens an avenue for the exploration of phenomena that take place on long timescales, e.g., slow and collective relaxation in frustrated and kinetically constrained systems. Our platform makes use of the strong dipolar interactions among electronic Rydberg states and planar confinement provided by a Penning trap. We investigate how the strong electric and magnetic fields that form this trap affect the properties of the Rydberg states and show that spin-spin interaction strengths on the order of MHz are achievable under experimentally realistic conditions. As a brief illustration of the capabilities of this quantum simulator, we study the entanglement in a frustrated spin system realized by three ions.

quant-pharXiv:2601.01626•PRX Quantum•Jan 6, 2026•0 citations

Analysis of magnetic interactions in rare-earth-doped crystals for quantum manipulation

O. Guillot-Noël, Philippe Goldner, E. Antic-Fidancev +1 more

The influence of magnetic interactions in rare-earth-doped crystals under an external magnetic field has been studied in order to obtain an efficient three-level $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ system with the hyperfine levels of the rare earth. Nuclear Zeeman effect under the action of an external magnetic field removes the nuclear degeneracy. This interaction does not provide an efficient $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ system because nuclear-spin flipping such as $\ensuremath{\mid}{M}_{I}⟩=\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}\frac{1}{2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\mid}{M}_{I}⟩=\ensuremath{\mp}\frac{1}{2}$ (${M}_{I}$ is the nuclear-spin projection) cannot be induced by an optical transition. However, this selection rule only applies to pure nuclear Zeeman effect. Indeed, it is shown that the coupling of the electronic Zeeman and of the hyperfine interactions releases the nuclear-spin selection rules $\ensuremath{\Delta}{M}_{I}=0$. This can be described in terms of a pseudonuclear Zeeman effect induced by an effective magnetic field. The relative strengths of the two optical transitions involved in the three-level system can be controlled by the orientation of the external magnetic field. The particular case of the ${\mathrm{Tm}}^{3+}$ ion in the ${\mathrm{Y}}_{3}{\mathrm{Al}}_{5}{\mathrm{O}}_{12}$ host (YAG) is discussed. ${\mathrm{Tm}}^{3+}$ hyperfine structure is determined using a complete Hamiltonian including free-ion, crystal-field, and magnetic interactions. A good three-level $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ system is obtained in Tm:YAG with a transition strength ratio of 0.24 $(\ensuremath{\sim}1:4)$ between the two optical transitions. An analytical analysis based on a spin-Hamiltonian approach is proposed to explain the results of the complete crystal-field calculations. Finally, an experimental protocol that makes a crystal similar to the atomic samples used in previous quantum information investigations, with the additional benefits of absence of motion and long coherence time, is described.

Physical Review B•May 12, 2005•56 citations
We propose the realization of linear crystals of cold ions that contain different atomic species for investigating quantum phase transitions and frustration effects in spin systems beyond the commonly considered case of . Mutual spin–spin interactions between ions can be tailored via the Zeeman effect by applying oscillating magnetic fields with strong gradients. Further, collective vibrational modes in the mixed ion crystal can be used to enhance and to vary the strength of spin–spin interactions and even to switch the nature of the interacting forces from a ferro- to an antiferromagnetic character. We consider the behavior of the effective spin–spin couplings in an ion crystal of spin-1/2 ions doped with high-magnetic-moment ions with spin S = 3. We analyze the ground state phase diagram and find regions with different spin orders including ferrimagnetic states. In the most simple nontrivial example, we deal with a linear {Ca + ,Mn + ,Ca + } crystal with spins of . To demonstrate feasibility with current state-of-the-art experiments, we discuss how quantum phases might be detected using a collective Stern–Gerlach effect of the ion crystal and high-resolution spectroscopy. Here, the state-dependent laser-induced fluorescence of the indicator spin-1/2 ion, of species 40 Ca + , is used to reveal also the spin state of the simulator spin-3 ions, 50 Mn + , which does not possess suitable levels for optical excitation and detection.
A collection of trapped atomic ions represents one of the most attractive platforms for the quantum simulation of interacting spin networks and quantum magnetism. Spin-dependent optical dipole forces applied to an ion crystal create long-range effective spin–spin interactions and allow the simulation of spin Hamiltonians that possess nontrivial phases and dynamics. Here we show how the appropriate design of laser fields can provide for arbitrary multidimensional spin–spin interaction graphs even for the case of a linear spatial array of ions. This scheme uses currently available trap technology and is scalable to levels where the classical methods of simulation are intractable.
We present a system for the simulation of Heisenberg models with spins s=1/2s=1/2s=1/2 and s=1s=1s=1 with a linear crystal of trapped ions. We show that the laser-ion interaction induces a Jaynes-Cummings-Hubbard interaction between the atomic V\mathsf{V}V-type level structure and the two phonon species. In the strong-coupling regime the collective atom and phonon excitations become localized at each lattice site and form an effective spin system with varying length. We show that the quantum-mechanical superexchange interaction caused by the second-order phonon hopping processes creates a Heisenberg-type coupling between the individual spins. Trapped ions allow control of the superexchange interactions by adjusting the trapping frequencies, the laser intensity, and the detuning.
The quantum simulation of complex many body systems holds promise for understanding the origin of emergent properties of strongly correlated systems, such as high-Tc superconductors and spin liquids. Cold atomic systems provide an almost ideal platform for quantum simulation due to their excellent quantum coherence, initialization and readout properties, and their ability to support several forms of interactions. In this thesis, I present experiments on the quantum simulation of long range Ising models in the presence of transverse magnetic fields with a chain of up to sixteen ultracold 171-Yb+ ions trapped in a linear radio frequency Paul trap. Two hyperfine levels in each of the 171-Yb+ ions serve as the spin-1/2 systems. We detect the spin states of the individual ions by observing state-dependent fluorescence with single site resolution, and can directly measure any possible spin correlation function. The spin-spin interactions are engineered by applying dipole forces from precisely tuned lasers whose beatnotes induce stimulated Raman transitions that couple virtually to collective phonon modes of the ion motion. The Ising couplings are controlled, both in sign and strength with respect to the effective transverse field, and adiabatically manipulated to study various aspects of this spin model, such as the emergence of a quantum phase transition in the ground state and spin frustration due to competing antiferromagnetic interactions. Spin frustration often gives rise to a massive degeneracy in the ground state, which can lead to entanglement in the spin system. We detect and characterize this frustration induced entanglement in a system of three spins, demonstrating the first direct experimental connection between frustration and entanglement. With larger numbers of spins we also vary the range of the antiferromagnetic couplings through appropriate laser tunings and observe that longer range interactions reduce the excitation energy and thereby frustrate the ground state order. This system can potentially be scaled up to study a wide range of fully connected spin networks with a few dozens of spins, where the underlying theory becomes intractable on a classical computer.
A collection of trapped atomic ions represents one of the most attractive platforms for the quantum simulation of interacting spin networks and quantum magnetism. Spin-dependent optical dipole forces applied to an ion crystal create long-range eective spin-spin interactions and allow the simulation of spin Hamiltonians that possess nontrivial phases and dynamics. We trap linear chains of 171Yb+ ions in a Paul trap, and constrain the occupation of energy levels to the ground hyperne clock-states, creating a qubit or pseudo-spin 1/2 system. We proceed to implement spin-spin couplings between two ions using the far detuned Mlmer-Srenson scheme and perform adiabatic quantum simulations of Ising Hamiltonians with long-range couplings. We then demonstrate our ability to control the sign and relative strength of the interaction between three ions. Using this control, we simulate a frustrated triangular lattice, and for the first time establish an experimental connection between frustration and quantum entanglement. We then scale up our simulation to show phase transitions from paramagnetism to ferromagnetism for nine ions, and to anti-ferromagnetism for sixteen ions. The experimental work culminates with our most complicated Hamiltonian - a long range anti-ferromagnetic Ising interaction between 10 ions with a biasing axial field. Theoretical work presented in this thesis shows how the approach to quantum simulation utilized in this thesis can be further extended and improved. It is shown how appropriate design of laser elds can provide for arbitrary multidimensional spin-spin interaction graphs even for the case of a linear spatial array of ions. This scheme uses currently existing trap technology and is scalable to levels where classical methods of simulation are intractable.
Quantum simulation of interacting many-body spin systems is routinely performed with cold trapped ions, and systems with hundreds of spins have been studied in one and two dimensions. In the most common realizations of these platforms, spin degrees of freedom are encoded in low-lying electronic levels, and interactions among the spins are mediated through crystal vibrations. Here we propose a new approach which enables the quantum simulation of two-dimensional spin systems with interaction strengths that are increased by orders of magnitude. This, together with the unprecedented longevity of trapped ions, opens an avenue for the exploration of phenomena that take place on long timescales, e.g., slow and collective relaxation in frustrated and kinetically constrained systems. Our platform makes use of the strong dipolar interactions among electronic Rydberg states and planar confinement provided by a Penning trap. We investigate how the strong electric and magnetic fields that form this trap affect the properties of the Rydberg states and show that spin-spin interaction strengths on the order of MHz are achievable under experimentally realistic conditions. As a brief illustration of the capabilities of this quantum simulator, we study the entanglement in a frustrated spin system realized by three ions.
The influence of magnetic interactions in rare-earth-doped crystals under an external magnetic field has been studied in order to obtain an efficient three-level $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ system with the hyperfine levels of the rare earth. Nuclear Zeeman effect under the action of an external magnetic field removes the nuclear degeneracy. This interaction does not provide an efficient $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ system because nuclear-spin flipping such as $\ensuremath{\mid}{M}_{I}⟩=\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}\frac{1}{2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\mid}{M}_{I}⟩=\ensuremath{\mp}\frac{1}{2}$ (MI{M}_{I}MI​ is the nuclear-spin projection) cannot be induced by an optical transition. However, this selection rule only applies to pure nuclear Zeeman effect. Indeed, it is shown that the coupling of the electronic Zeeman and of the hyperfine interactions releases the nuclear-spin selection rules $\ensuremath{\Delta}{M}_{I}=0$. This can be described in terms of a pseudonuclear Zeeman effect induced by an effective magnetic field. The relative strengths of the two optical transitions involved in the three-level system can be controlled by the orientation of the external magnetic field. The particular case of the Tm3+{\mathrm{Tm}}^{3+}Tm3+ ion in the Y3Al5O12{\mathrm{Y}}_{3}{\mathrm{Al}}_{5}{\mathrm{O}}_{12}Y3​Al5​O12​ host (YAG) is discussed. Tm3+{\mathrm{Tm}}^{3+}Tm3+ hyperfine structure is determined using a complete Hamiltonian including free-ion, crystal-field, and magnetic interactions. A good three-level $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ system is obtained in Tm:YAG with a transition strength ratio of 0.24 $(\ensuremath{\sim}1:4)$ between the two optical transitions. An analytical analysis based on a spin-Hamiltonian approach is proposed to explain the results of the complete crystal-field calculations. Finally, an experimental protocol that makes a crystal similar to the atomic samples used in previous quantum information investigations, with the additional benefits of absence of motion and long coherence time, is described.