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:1208.4005 · Physical Review Letters

Pinning an Ion with an Intracavity Optical Lattice

Rasmus B. Linnet, Ian D. Leroux, Mathieu Marciante, Aurélien Dantan, Michael Drewsen

Published Dec 5, 2012• 47 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We report one-dimensional pinning of a single ion by an optical lattice. A standing-wave cavity produces the lattice potential along the rf-field-free axis of a linear Paul trap. The ion's localization is detected by measuring its fluorescence when excited by standing-wave fields with the same period, but different spatial phases. The experiments agree with an analytical model of the localization process, which we test against numerical simulations. For the best localization achieved, the ion's average coupling to the cavity field is enhanced from 50% to 81(3)% of its maximum possible value, and we infer that the ion is bound in a lattice well with over 97% probability.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.109.233005

Related papers

Single Ions Trapped in a One-Dimensional Optical Lattice

Martin Enderlein, Thomas M. Huber, Christian Schneider +1 more

We report on three-dimensional optical trapping of single ions in a one-dimensional optical lattice formed by two counterpropagating laser beams. We characterize the trapping parameters of the standing-wave using the ion as a sensor stored in a hybrid trap consisting of a radio-frequency (rf), a dc, and the optical potential. When loading ions directly from the rf into the standing-wave trap, we observe a dominant heating rate. Monte Carlo simulations confirm rf-induced parametric excitations within the deep optical lattice as the main source. We demonstrate a way around this effect by an alternative transfer protocol which involves an intermediate step of optical confinement in a single-beam trap avoiding the temporal overlap of the standing-wave and the rf field. Implications arise for hybrid (rf-optical) and pure optical traps as platforms for ultracold chemistry experiments exploring atom-ion collisions or quantum simulation experiments with ions, or combinations of ions and atoms.

arXiv:1208.3329•Physical Review Letters•Dec 5, 2012•71 citations

Phase-Stable Free-Space Optical Lattices for Trapped Ions

Christian Tomás Schmiegelow, Henning Kaufmann, Thomas Ruster +5 more

We demonstrate control of the absolute phase of an optical lattice with respect to a single trapped ion. The lattice is generated by off-resonant free-space laser beams, and we actively stabilize its phase by measuring its ac-Stark shift on a trapped ion. The ion is localized within the standing wave to better than 2% of its period. The locked lattice allows us to apply displacement operations via resonant optical forces with a controlled direction in phase space. Moreover, we observe the lattice-induced phase evolution of spin superposition states in order to analyze the relevant decoherence mechanisms. Finally, we employ lattice-induced phase shifts for inferring the variation of the ion position over the 157 μm range along the trap axis at accuracies of better than 6 nm.

arXiv:1507.05207•Physical Review Letters•Jan 21, 2016•27 citations

Deterministic ion-photon interaction in a cavity

Matthias Keller, Gerhard R. Guthöhrlein, Birgit Lange +3 more

Summary form only given. In a recent experiment, we have investigated the interaction between a single /sup 40/Ca/sup +/-ion stored in a radio-frequency trap and the field of an optical cavity. One mode of the cavity was tuned to the S/sub 1/2/ to P/sub 1/2/ transition of singly ionized calcium at a wavelength of /spl lambda/ = 397 nm. Using laser Doppler cooling in conjunction with the strong confinement of the ion in an effective harmonic potential (frequency 1.1 MHz), the extension of the ion's wave packet was reduced to 60 nm, corresponding to /spl lambda//7, in the direction of the cavity axis. The position of the ion in the cavity was determined by observing the fluorescent light emitted by the ion after excitation in the cavity field. A large fluorescent rate indicated a position of high intracavity intensity. An image of the standing wave pattern obtained in this way is shown. Note that throughout the measurement the ion remains stationary and the cavity is moved to scan the relative position of ion and field.

Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference•Jun 25, 2003•0 citations

Sub-wavelength resolution of optical fields probed by single atoms

Jürgen Eschner

The paper summarizes on the results of several experiments on single trapped ions which have been used to map optical fields. In these experiments, the ion was placed either in front of a (distant) mirror or in an optical cavity. Sub-wavelength resolution is achieved because the position of the ion relative to the mirror(s) is well-controlled and the ion's spatial wavefunction is confined to a region much smaller than the optical wavelength (400 to 800 nm). This strong localization is due to the trapping potential of a Paul-type ion trap, and laser cooling. In the three experiments the ions were Doppler-cooled, and a resolution between about 10 and 50 nm was achieved. With this resolution, the spatial variation of an optical standing-wave field was detected by shifting the single ion through the field structure.

European Quantum Electronics Conference (EQEC)•Jan 1, 2003•0 citations

Localization of ions within one-, two- and three-dimensional Coulomb crystals by a standing wave optical potential

T. Lauprêtre, Rasmus B. Linnet, Ian D. Leroux +2 more

We demonstrate light-induced localization of Coulomb-interacting particles in multi-dimensional structures. Subwavelength localization of ions within small multi-dimensional Coulomb crystals by an intracavity optical standing wave field is evidenced by measuring the difference in scattering inside symmetrically red- and blue-detuned optical lattices and is observed even for ions undergoing substantial radial micromotion. These results are promising steps towards the structural control of ion Coulomb crystals by optical fields as well as for complex many-body simulations with ion crystals or for the investigation of heat transfer at the nanoscale, and have potential applications for ion-based cavity quantum electrodynamics, cavity optomechanics and ultracold ion chemistry.

arXiv:1703.05089•Mar 15, 2017•2 citations

Diffusion of a single ion in a one-dimensional optical lattice

Stefan Schlipf, Hidetoshi Katori, Luca Perotti +1 more

We present an experimental study of the spatial diffusion of a single ion in a polarization gradient field. A 24 Mg + ion was radially confined in a two-dimensional radio-frequency (rf) trap, while an optical lattice superimposed to a weak electric potential was applied along the free axis. With the help of a statistical analysis of single ion trajectories, a spatial diffusion constant was obtained as a function of optical potential depth. The results are compared to semiclassical theoretical models for trapped ions and neutral atoms.

Optics Express•Jul 20, 1998•8 citations
We report one-dimensional pinning of a single ion by an optical lattice. A standing-wave cavity produces the lattice potential along the rf-field-free axis of a linear Paul trap. The ion's localization is detected by measuring its fluorescence when excited by standing-wave fields with the same period, but different spatial phases. The experiments agree with an analytical model of the localization process, which we test against numerical simulations. For the best localization achieved, the ion's average coupling to the cavity field is enhanced from 50% to 81(3)% of its maximum possible value, and we infer that the ion is bound in a lattice well with over 97% probability.
We report on three-dimensional optical trapping of single ions in a one-dimensional optical lattice formed by two counterpropagating laser beams. We characterize the trapping parameters of the standing-wave using the ion as a sensor stored in a hybrid trap consisting of a radio-frequency (rf), a dc, and the optical potential. When loading ions directly from the rf into the standing-wave trap, we observe a dominant heating rate. Monte Carlo simulations confirm rf-induced parametric excitations within the deep optical lattice as the main source. We demonstrate a way around this effect by an alternative transfer protocol which involves an intermediate step of optical confinement in a single-beam trap avoiding the temporal overlap of the standing-wave and the rf field. Implications arise for hybrid (rf-optical) and pure optical traps as platforms for ultracold chemistry experiments exploring atom-ion collisions or quantum simulation experiments with ions, or combinations of ions and atoms.
We demonstrate control of the absolute phase of an optical lattice with respect to a single trapped ion. The lattice is generated by off-resonant free-space laser beams, and we actively stabilize its phase by measuring its ac-Stark shift on a trapped ion. The ion is localized within the standing wave to better than 2% of its period. The locked lattice allows us to apply displacement operations via resonant optical forces with a controlled direction in phase space. Moreover, we observe the lattice-induced phase evolution of spin superposition states in order to analyze the relevant decoherence mechanisms. Finally, we employ lattice-induced phase shifts for inferring the variation of the ion position over the 157 μm range along the trap axis at accuracies of better than 6 nm.
Summary form only given. In a recent experiment, we have investigated the interaction between a single /sup 40/Ca/sup +/-ion stored in a radio-frequency trap and the field of an optical cavity. One mode of the cavity was tuned to the S/sub 1/2/ to P/sub 1/2/ transition of singly ionized calcium at a wavelength of /spl lambda/ = 397 nm. Using laser Doppler cooling in conjunction with the strong confinement of the ion in an effective harmonic potential (frequency 1.1 MHz), the extension of the ion's wave packet was reduced to 60 nm, corresponding to /spl lambda//7, in the direction of the cavity axis. The position of the ion in the cavity was determined by observing the fluorescent light emitted by the ion after excitation in the cavity field. A large fluorescent rate indicated a position of high intracavity intensity. An image of the standing wave pattern obtained in this way is shown. Note that throughout the measurement the ion remains stationary and the cavity is moved to scan the relative position of ion and field.
The paper summarizes on the results of several experiments on single trapped ions which have been used to map optical fields. In these experiments, the ion was placed either in front of a (distant) mirror or in an optical cavity. Sub-wavelength resolution is achieved because the position of the ion relative to the mirror(s) is well-controlled and the ion's spatial wavefunction is confined to a region much smaller than the optical wavelength (400 to 800 nm). This strong localization is due to the trapping potential of a Paul-type ion trap, and laser cooling. In the three experiments the ions were Doppler-cooled, and a resolution between about 10 and 50 nm was achieved. With this resolution, the spatial variation of an optical standing-wave field was detected by shifting the single ion through the field structure.
We demonstrate light-induced localization of Coulomb-interacting particles in multi-dimensional structures. Subwavelength localization of ions within small multi-dimensional Coulomb crystals by an intracavity optical standing wave field is evidenced by measuring the difference in scattering inside symmetrically red- and blue-detuned optical lattices and is observed even for ions undergoing substantial radial micromotion. These results are promising steps towards the structural control of ion Coulomb crystals by optical fields as well as for complex many-body simulations with ion crystals or for the investigation of heat transfer at the nanoscale, and have potential applications for ion-based cavity quantum electrodynamics, cavity optomechanics and ultracold ion chemistry.
We present an experimental study of the spatial diffusion of a single ion in a polarization gradient field. A 24 Mg + ion was radially confined in a two-dimensional radio-frequency (rf) trap, while an optical lattice superimposed to a weak electric potential was applied along the free axis. With the help of a statistical analysis of single ion trajectories, a spatial diffusion constant was obtained as a function of optical potential depth. The results are compared to semiclassical theoretical models for trapped ions and neutral atoms.