arXiv:1405.6071 · Physical Review A
Quantum simulation of superexchange magnetism in linear ion crystals
Peter A. Ivanov, Naoum Karchev, Nikolay V. Vitanov, Dimitris G. Angelakis
Abstract
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.