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

Characterisation of an experiment for sympathetic cooling and coupling of ions in a cryogenic Penning trap

Teresa Meiners

Published Jan 1, 2021• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The comparison of the g-factors of the proton and the antiproton is a stringent test of CPT invariance. The state-of-the-art method for the determination of the (anti-)proton's g-factor is the application of the continuous Stern-Gerlach effect. With this method, precisions in the low parts per billion regime could be achieved. However, preparation times for cold enough particles are on the order of minutes to hours. The implementation of sympathetic cooling using a co-trapped atomic ion could lead to preparation times in the milliseconds regime. Furthermore, the applicability of sympathetic cooling would enable an alternative readout scheme using quantum logic methods. This thesis presents a Penning trap system that is designed for ground state cooling, adiabatic transport, and motional coupling of single 9Be+ ions. It has been built in a modular manner, giving the option of adapting it for motional coupling and sympathetic cooling of single (anti-)protons. In the course of this work, the prerequisites for motional coupling of 9Be+ ions have been fulfilled: A cloud of 9Be+ ions was cooled to a temperature of 1.7~mK applying Doppler cooling. The achieved temperature is about three times the Doppler limit which is 0.5~mK for beryllium ions. Furthermore, a scheme for reproducible loading of the trap and reducing the particle number was developed. Finally, first transport in our apparatus was demonstrated with clouds of beryllium ions. The method used for that is directly applicable to single ions. The results of this work pave the way towards adiabatic transport of single 9Be+ ions, which is crucial for sympathetic cooling of (anti-)protons in a double-well potential as well as for implementing quantum logic spectroscopy with single (anti-)protons.

DOI
10.15488/11106

Related papers

Thermometry of 9Be+ ions in a cryogenic Penning trap

J. Mielke

High precision comparisons of the proton and antiproton g-factor enable stringent tests of CPT symmetry in the baryonic sector. However, current measurement routines suffer from long preparation times and high particle temperatures, which complicate the increase of the precision beyond the parts per billion regime. As a solution, new sympathetic cooling schemes based on co-trapped laser-cooled ions may be used to cool (anti-)protons to the ground state of motion and to significantly decrease particle preparation times. In addition, motional coupling to an auxiliary ion in a double-well potential can be used for the implementation of new readout schemes based on quantum logic spectroscopy for the spin-state of the (anti-)protons. This thesis describes a cryogenic Penning trap system for ground state cooling of single 9Be+ ions, which represents the latest development of the BASE experiment in Hannover towards the implementation of sympathetic cooling schemes and quantum logic spectroscopy of single (anti-)protons. Furthermore, the setup and implementation of lasers systems at 313nm for Doppler cooling, repumping and Raman interactions are described. To this end, an optical platform for laser beam delivery to the vacuum system and an optical phase-locked loop for the stabilization of the relative phase of two lasers at 313 nm are presented. In this work, the laser systems are used for measurements of the optical resonance frequencies for cooling, probing and repumping of 9Be+ ions. In addition, stimulated Raman transitions are demonstrated using two phase-locked lasers at 313nm. In the following, this technique is used for high-precision measurements of the qubit frequency and the magnetic field, as well as themometry measurements with 9Be+ ions. The temperature of the ions after Doppler cooling is measured as a function of the cooling laser parameters and a minimal axial mode temperature of 1.77(10) mK is obtained. The results of this thesis pave the way for sideband spectroscopy and ground state cooling of single 9Be+ ions in Penning traps, which is an essential prerequisite for sympathetic ground state cooling of single (anti-)protons and the application of quantum logic spectroscopy to (anti-)proton g-factor measurements in the future.

•Jan 1, 2021•0 citations

Cryogenic 9Be+ Penning trap for precision measurements with (anti-)protons

M Niemann, T Meiners, J Mielke +4 more

Abstract Cooling and detection schemes using laser cooling and methods of quantum logic can contribute to high precision CPT symmetry tests in the baryonic sector. This work introduces an experiment to sympathetically cool protons and antiprotons using the Coulomb interaction with a ion trapped in a nearby but separate potential well. We have designed and set up an apparatus to show such coupling between two identical ions for the first time in a Penning trap. In this paper, we present evidence for successful loading and Doppler cooling of clouds and single ions. Our coupling scheme has applications in a range of high-precision measurements in Penning traps and has the potential to substantially improve motional control in these experiments.

arXiv:1906.09249•Measurement Science and Technology•Nov 13, 2019•31 citations

Cryogenic Penning-Trap Apparatus for Precision Experiments with Sympathetically Cooled (Anti)Protons

Malte Niemann, Teresa Meiners, J. Mielke +17 more

Current precision experiments with single (anti)protons to test CPT symmetry progress at a rapid pace, but are complicated by the need to cool particles to sub-thermal energies. We describe a cryogenic Penning-trap setup for $^9$Be$^+$ ions designed to allow coupling of single (anti)protons to laser-cooled atomic ions for sympathetic cooling and quantum logic spectroscopy. We report on trapping and laser cooling of clouds and single $^9$Be$^+$ ions. We discuss prospects for a microfabricated trap to allow coupling of single (anti)protons to laser-cooled $^9$Be$^+$ ions for sympathetic laser cooling to sub-mK temperatures on ms time scales.

arXiv:2107.08433•CPT and Lorentz Symmetry•Apr 7, 2020•0 citations

Fast adiabatic transport of single laser-cooled 9Be+ ions in a cryogenic Penning trap stack

Teresa Meiners, Julia A. Coenders, Johannes Brombacher +4 more

Abstract High precision mass and g-factor measurements in Penning traps have enabled groundbreaking tests of fundamental physics. The most advanced setups use multi-trap methods, which employ transport of particles between specialized trap zones. Present developments focused on the implementation of sympathetic laser cooling will enable significantly shorter duty cycles and better accuracies in many of these scenarios. To take full advantage of these increased capabilities, we implement fast adiabatic transport concepts developed in the context of trapped-ion quantum information processing in a cryogenic Penning trap system. We show adiabatic transport of a single $$^9\textrm{Be}^+$$ 9 Be + ion initially cooled to 2 mK over a 2.2-cm distance within 15 ms and with less than 10 mK energy gain at a peak velocity of 3 m/s. These results represent an important step towards the implementation of quantum logic spectroscopy in the (anti-)proton system. Applying these developments to other multi-trap systems has the potential to considerably increase the data-sampling rate in these experiments.

The European Physical Journal Plus•Mar 15, 2024•3 citations

Sympathetic cooling of protons and antiprotons with a common endcap Penning trap

M. Bohman, A. Mooser, G. Schneider +12 more

We present an experiment to sympathetically cool single protons and antiprotons in a Penning trap by resonantly coupling the particles to laser cooled beryllium ions using a common endcap technique. Our analysis shows that preparation of (anti)protons at mK temperatures on timescales of tens of seconds is feasible. Successful implementation of the technique will have immediate and significant impact on high-precision comparisons of the fundamental properties of protons and antiprotons. This in turn will provide stringent tests of the fundamental symmetries of the Standard Model.

arXiv:1709.00433•Journal of Modern Optics•Dec 4, 2017•38 citations

A robust method to reach the motional quantum regime of (anti-)protons in cryogenic multi-Penning traps

Nikita Poljakov, Jan Schaper, Julia-Aileen Coenders +5 more

Sympathetic laser cooling is a key concept in precision spectroscopy and quantum state control of charged particles. Significant challenges arise in the metrologically relevant case where the effective interaction between the particles is weak and the particle to be cooled exhibits significant initial motional energy. Here we specifically address the most generally applicable case where the laser-cooled ion and the particle of interest are confined to two spatially separate potential wells with equal motional frequency for resonant enhancement of the cooling dynamics. We analyze the latter through numerical simulations and find that anharmonicities of the potential wells can prevent maintaining the resonance condition throughout the cooling process and thus inhibit a significant reduction in motional energy. We propose a cooling scheme that sweeps the trapping frequency of the potential wells. We show that this scheme enables efficient cooling from cryogenic temperatures all the way to the quantum regime of motion. As a specific application scenario, we analyze the sympathetic cooling of (anti-)protons into the quantum regime of motion for quantum-logic-spectroscopy-based tests of CPT invariance at the quantum limit in Penning traps. Nevertheless, our results and cooling strategies are generally applicable to other laser-inaccessible ion species.

quant-pharXiv:2602.22826•Feb 27, 2026•0 citations
The comparison of the g-factors of the proton and the antiproton is a stringent test of CPT invariance. The state-of-the-art method for the determination of the (anti-)proton's g-factor is the application of the continuous Stern-Gerlach effect. With this method, precisions in the low parts per billion regime could be achieved. However, preparation times for cold enough particles are on the order of minutes to hours. The implementation of sympathetic cooling using a co-trapped atomic ion could lead to preparation times in the milliseconds regime. Furthermore, the applicability of sympathetic cooling would enable an alternative readout scheme using quantum logic methods. This thesis presents a Penning trap system that is designed for ground state cooling, adiabatic transport, and motional coupling of single 9Be+ ions. It has been built in a modular manner, giving the option of adapting it for motional coupling and sympathetic cooling of single (anti-)protons. In the course of this work, the prerequisites for motional coupling of 9Be+ ions have been fulfilled: A cloud of 9Be+ ions was cooled to a temperature of 1.7mK applying Doppler cooling. The achieved temperature is about three times the Doppler limit which is 0.5mK for beryllium ions. Furthermore, a scheme for reproducible loading of the trap and reducing the particle number was developed. Finally, first transport in our apparatus was demonstrated with clouds of beryllium ions. The method used for that is directly applicable to single ions. The results of this work pave the way towards adiabatic transport of single 9Be+ ions, which is crucial for sympathetic cooling of (anti-)protons in a double-well potential as well as for implementing quantum logic spectroscopy with single (anti-)protons.
High precision comparisons of the proton and antiproton g-factor enable stringent tests of CPT symmetry in the baryonic sector. However, current measurement routines suffer from long preparation times and high particle temperatures, which complicate the increase of the precision beyond the parts per billion regime. As a solution, new sympathetic cooling schemes based on co-trapped laser-cooled ions may be used to cool (anti-)protons to the ground state of motion and to significantly decrease particle preparation times. In addition, motional coupling to an auxiliary ion in a double-well potential can be used for the implementation of new readout schemes based on quantum logic spectroscopy for the spin-state of the (anti-)protons. This thesis describes a cryogenic Penning trap system for ground state cooling of single 9Be+ ions, which represents the latest development of the BASE experiment in Hannover towards the implementation of sympathetic cooling schemes and quantum logic spectroscopy of single (anti-)protons. Furthermore, the setup and implementation of lasers systems at 313nm for Doppler cooling, repumping and Raman interactions are described. To this end, an optical platform for laser beam delivery to the vacuum system and an optical phase-locked loop for the stabilization of the relative phase of two lasers at 313 nm are presented. In this work, the laser systems are used for measurements of the optical resonance frequencies for cooling, probing and repumping of 9Be+ ions. In addition, stimulated Raman transitions are demonstrated using two phase-locked lasers at 313nm. In the following, this technique is used for high-precision measurements of the qubit frequency and the magnetic field, as well as themometry measurements with 9Be+ ions. The temperature of the ions after Doppler cooling is measured as a function of the cooling laser parameters and a minimal axial mode temperature of 1.77(10) mK is obtained. The results of this thesis pave the way for sideband spectroscopy and ground state cooling of single 9Be+ ions in Penning traps, which is an essential prerequisite for sympathetic ground state cooling of single (anti-)protons and the application of quantum logic spectroscopy to (anti-)proton g-factor measurements in the future.
Abstract Cooling and detection schemes using laser cooling and methods of quantum logic can contribute to high precision CPT symmetry tests in the baryonic sector. This work introduces an experiment to sympathetically cool protons and antiprotons using the Coulomb interaction with a ion trapped in a nearby but separate potential well. We have designed and set up an apparatus to show such coupling between two identical ions for the first time in a Penning trap. In this paper, we present evidence for successful loading and Doppler cooling of clouds and single ions. Our coupling scheme has applications in a range of high-precision measurements in Penning traps and has the potential to substantially improve motional control in these experiments.
Current precision experiments with single (anti)protons to test CPT symmetry progress at a rapid pace, but are complicated by the need to cool particles to sub-thermal energies. We describe a cryogenic Penning-trap setup for 9^99Be+^++ ions designed to allow coupling of single (anti)protons to laser-cooled atomic ions for sympathetic cooling and quantum logic spectroscopy. We report on trapping and laser cooling of clouds and single 9^99Be+^++ ions. We discuss prospects for a microfabricated trap to allow coupling of single (anti)protons to laser-cooled 9^99Be+^++ ions for sympathetic laser cooling to sub-mK temperatures on ms time scales.
Abstract High precision mass and g-factor measurements in Penning traps have enabled groundbreaking tests of fundamental physics. The most advanced setups use multi-trap methods, which employ transport of particles between specialized trap zones. Present developments focused on the implementation of sympathetic laser cooling will enable significantly shorter duty cycles and better accuracies in many of these scenarios. To take full advantage of these increased capabilities, we implement fast adiabatic transport concepts developed in the context of trapped-ion quantum information processing in a cryogenic Penning trap system. We show adiabatic transport of a single 9Be+^9\textrm{Be}^+9Be+ 9 Be + ion initially cooled to 2 mK over a 2.2-cm distance within 15 ms and with less than 10 mK energy gain at a peak velocity of 3 m/s. These results represent an important step towards the implementation of quantum logic spectroscopy in the (anti-)proton system. Applying these developments to other multi-trap systems has the potential to considerably increase the data-sampling rate in these experiments.
We present an experiment to sympathetically cool single protons and antiprotons in a Penning trap by resonantly coupling the particles to laser cooled beryllium ions using a common endcap technique. Our analysis shows that preparation of (anti)protons at mK temperatures on timescales of tens of seconds is feasible. Successful implementation of the technique will have immediate and significant impact on high-precision comparisons of the fundamental properties of protons and antiprotons. This in turn will provide stringent tests of the fundamental symmetries of the Standard Model.
Sympathetic laser cooling is a key concept in precision spectroscopy and quantum state control of charged particles. Significant challenges arise in the metrologically relevant case where the effective interaction between the particles is weak and the particle to be cooled exhibits significant initial motional energy. Here we specifically address the most generally applicable case where the laser-cooled ion and the particle of interest are confined to two spatially separate potential wells with equal motional frequency for resonant enhancement of the cooling dynamics. We analyze the latter through numerical simulations and find that anharmonicities of the potential wells can prevent maintaining the resonance condition throughout the cooling process and thus inhibit a significant reduction in motional energy. We propose a cooling scheme that sweeps the trapping frequency of the potential wells. We show that this scheme enables efficient cooling from cryogenic temperatures all the way to the quantum regime of motion. As a specific application scenario, we analyze the sympathetic cooling of (anti-)protons into the quantum regime of motion for quantum-logic-spectroscopy-based tests of CPT invariance at the quantum limit in Penning traps. Nevertheless, our results and cooling strategies are generally applicable to other laser-inaccessible ion species.