We report the localization of an ion by a one-dimensional optical lattice in the presence of an applied external force. The ion is confined radially by a radio frequency trap and axially by a combined electrostatic and optical-lattice potential. Using a resolved Raman sideband technique, one or several ions are cooled to a mean vibrational number <n>=(0.1±0.1) along the optical lattice. We measure the average position of a periodically driven ion with a resolution down to λ/40, and demonstrate localization to a single lattice site for up to 10 ms. This opens new possibilities for studying many-body systems with long-range interactions in periodic potentials, as well as fundamental models of friction.We report the localization of an ion by a one-dimensional optical lattice in the presence of an applied external force. The ion is confined radially by a radio frequency trap and axially by a combined electrostatic and optical-lattice potential. Using a resolved Raman sideband technique, one or several ions are cooled to a mean vibrational number <n>=(0.1±0.1) along the optical lattice. We measure the average position of a periodically driven ion with a resolution down to λ/40, and demonstrate localization to a single lattice site for up to 10 ms. This opens new possibilities for studying many-body systems with long-range interactions in periodic potentials, as well as fundamental models of friction.

arXiv:1304.0049Physical Review LettersOct 16, 201346 citations

Preparation, Cooling, and Spectroscopy of Single, Localized Ions

Werner Neuhauser, M. Hohenstatt, P. E. Toschek +1 more

Springer series in optical sciences/SPringer series in optical sciencesJan 1, 19796 citations

Bright and dark excitons in an atom-pair–filled optical lattice within a cavity

Hashem Zoubi, Helmut Ritsch

We study electronic excitations of a degenerate gas of atoms trapped in pairs in an optical lattice. Local dipole-dipole interactions produce a long-lived antisymmetric and a short-lived symmetric superposition of individual atomic excitations as the lowest internal on-site excitations. Due to the much larger dipole moment the symmetric states couple efficiently to neighbouring lattice sites and can be well represented by Frenkel excitons, while the antisymmetric dark states stay localized. Within a cavity only symmetric states couple to cavity photons inducing long-range interactions to form polaritons. We calculate their dispersion curves as well as cavity transmission and reflection spectra to observe them. For a lattice with aspherical sites bright and dark states get mixed and their relative excitation energies depend on photon polarizations.We study electronic excitations of a degenerate gas of atoms trapped in pairs in an optical lattice. Local dipole-dipole interactions produce a long-lived antisymmetric and a short-lived symmetric superposition of individual atomic excitations as the lowest internal on-site excitations. Due to the much larger dipole moment the symmetric states couple efficiently to neighbouring lattice sites and can be well represented by Frenkel excitons, while the antisymmetric dark states stay localized. Within a cavity only symmetric states couple to cavity photons inducing long-range interactions to form polaritons. We calculate their dispersion curves as well as cavity transmission and reflection spectra to observe them. For a lattice with aspherical sites bright and dark states get mixed and their relative excitation energies depend on photon polarizations.

arXiv:0707.4432Europhysics Letters (EPL)Mar 7, 200824 citations

Optical trapping of an ion

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

arXiv:1001.2953Nature PhotonicsOct 24, 2010133 citations

Long-lived metastable states in the 4f$^{13} $5d6s configuration of Yb$ ^+$Long-lived metastable states in the 4f$^{13}$5d6s configuration of Yb$^+$

Z. E. D. Ackerman, A. Cadarso Quevedo, Ilango Maran +4 more

We study the occurrence of long-lived metastable states in the 4f$^{13} $5d6s electron configuration of Yb$ ^+$. By optical pumping of a single trapped ion on the $^2F^\text{o}_{7/2}\rightarrow (7/2,0)_{7/2}$ transition at 377.5 nm, we prepare a wide range of metastable electronic states. We use a co-trapped control ion to sympathetically cool the spectroscopy ion, allowing us to accurately time its subsequent decay. We record a strong decay signal corresponding to a lifetime of 0.92(8) s, a weaker decay signal with lifetime 9.8(+2.9, -2.0) s, and find evidence for a much longer lifetime, $>$ 30 s. We identify the metastable states with these lifetimes qualitatively, and corroborate our results with atomic structure calculations that support the observed lifetimes and decay paths. These long-lived states provide new opportunities in qubit and qudit state detection and optical clocks.We study the occurrence of long-lived metastable states in the 4f$^{13}$5d6s electron configuration of Yb$^+$. By optical pumping of a single trapped ion on the $^2F^\text{o}_{7/2}\rightarrow (7/2,0)_{7/2}$ transition at 377.5 nm, we prepare a wide range of metastable electronic states. We use a co-trapped control ion to sympathetically cool the spectroscopy ion, allowing us to accurately time its subsequent decay. We record a strong decay signal corresponding to a lifetime of 0.92(8) s, a weaker decay signal with lifetime 9.8(+2.9, -2.0) s, and find evidence for a much longer lifetime, $>$ 30 s. We identify the metastable states with these lifetimes qualitatively, and corroborate our results with atomic structure calculations that support the observed lifetimes and decay paths. These long-lived states provide new opportunities in qubit and qudit state detection and optical clocks.

physics.atom-phCross-listedarXiv:2603.04250Physical Review AMar 5, 20261 citation

Long-lived metastable states in the 4f$^{13}

5d6s configuration of Yb

^+$

We study the occurrence of long-lived metastable states in the 4f$^{13}

5d6s electron configuration of Yb

^+$. By optical pumping of a single trapped ion on the

^2F^\text{o}_{7/2}\rightarrow (7/2,0)_{7/2}

transition at 377.5 nm, we prepare a wide range of metastable electronic states. We use a co-trapped control ion to sympathetically cool the spectroscopy ion, allowing us to accurately time its subsequent decay. We record a strong decay signal corresponding to a lifetime of 0.92(8) s, a weaker decay signal with lifetime 9.8(+2.9, -2.0) s, and find evidence for a much longer lifetime,

>

30 s. We identify the metastable states with these lifetimes qualitatively, and corroborate our results with atomic structure calculations that support the observed lifetimes and decay paths. These long-lived states provide new opportunities in qubit and qudit state detection and optical clocks.