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

AVS Quantum Science

Theoretical study on rotation measurement with quantum vibration oscillators based on ion crystal in a Penning trap

Yao Chen, Ruyang Guo, Ju Guo, Yintao Ma, Libo Zhao

Published Sep 1, 2025• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

In traditional mechanics, harmonic oscillators can be used to measure force, acceleration, or rotation. Herein, we describe a quantum harmonic oscillator based on a Penning-trapped calcium ion crystal. Similar to traditional oscillators, the Coriolis force-induced axial oscillation amplitude is precisely measured to determine the input velocity. We show that the magnetron motion can be controlled through the rotating wall driving and treated as the driving oscillator. The Coriolis force couples with the magnetron motion and induces vibration in the axial direction or the z direction. The center of mass motion of the ion crystal in the axial direction could be precisely detected by the entanglement between the spins of the ions and the harmonic motion through lasers. The frequency of the magnetron motion needs to meet that of the axial motion under certain conditions, and, thus, the axial motion could be tuned to the resonance peak for maximum detection signal. We provided the parameter spaces for the matching of the magnetron frequencies with those of the axial frequencies. The measurement sensitivity was calculated in detail, and results show that a rotation angular velocity of 3.0×10−9rad/s/Hz could be achieved with 10 000 ions. Amplitude sensing could reach a sensitivity of 0.4 pm/Hz. With spin squeezing, the sensitivity could be further improved.

DOI
10.1116/5.0282956

Related papers

Theoretical study on rotation measurement with a quantum vibration oscillator based on Penning trapped ions

Yao Chen, Ruyang Guo, Ju Guo +2 more

In traditional mechanics, harmonic oscillators can be used to measure force, acceleration, or rotation. Herein, we describe a quantum harmonic oscillator based on a penning trapped calcium ion crystal. Similar to traditional oscillators, the Coriolis force induced axial oscillation amplitude is precisely measured to determine the input velocity. We show that the magnetron motion can be controlled through the rotating wall driving and treated as the driving oscillator. The Coriolis force couples with the magnetron motion and induces vibration in the axial direction or the $z$ direction. The center of mass motion of the ion crystal in the axial direction could be precisely detected by the entanglement between the spins of the ions and the harmonic motion through lasers. The frequency of the magnetron motion needs to meet that of the axial motion under certain conditions and thus the axial motion could be tuned to the resonance peak for maximum detection signal. We gave the parameter spaces for the meeting of the magnetron frequencies to that of the axial frequencies. The measurement sensitivity was calculated in details and results show that rotation angular velocity of $3.0\times10^{-9}rad/s/\sqrt{Hz}$ could achieve with 10000 ions. Amplitude sensing could reach sensitivity of 0.4$pm/\sqrt{Hz}$. With spin squeezing, the sensitivity could be further improved.

arXiv:2504.07376•Apr 10, 2025•0 citations

Dynamics of an unbalanced two-ion crystal in a Penning trap for application in optical mass spectrometry

M. J. Gutiérrez, J. Berrocal, Francisco Domínguez +4 more

In this paper, the dynamics of an unbalanced two-ion crystal comprising the ``target'' and the ``sensor'' ions confined in a Penning trap along the magnetic-field axis has been studied. First, the low amplitude regime is addressed. In this regime, the overall potential including the Coulomb repulsion between the ions can be considered harmonic and the axial, magnetron, and reduced-cyclotron modes split up into the so-called stretch and common modes, that are generalizations of the well-known ``breathing'' and ``center-of-mass'' motions of a balanced crystal made of two ions. By using optical detection to measure the frequencies of the modes of the crystal, and of the sensor ion on its own, in the quantum regime of motion, it will be possible to determine the target ion's free-cyclotron frequency. The nonharmonicity of the Coulomb interaction is also discussed since this causes large systematic effects, which are minimized due to the high sensitivity of the optical detection method when the crystal is cooled to the ground state of motion in the Penning trap.

arXiv:1907.08045•Physical Review A•Dec 10, 2019•18 citations

Amplitude Sensing below the Zero-Point Fluctuations with a Two-Dimensional Trapped-Ion Mechanical Oscillator

Kevin Gilmore, Justin Bohnet, Brian C. Sawyer +2 more

We present a technique to measure the amplitude of a center-of-mass (c.m.) motion of a two-dimensional ion crystal of ∼100 ions. By sensing motion at frequencies far from the c.m. resonance frequency, we experimentally determine the technique's measurement imprecision. We resolve amplitudes as small as 50 pm, 40 times smaller than the c.m. mode zero-point fluctuations. The technique employs a spin-dependent, optical-dipole force to couple the mechanical oscillation to the electron spins of the trapped ions, enabling a measurement of one quadrature of the c.m. motion through a readout of the spin state. We demonstrate sensitivity limits set by spin projection noise and spin decoherence due to off-resonant light scattering. When performed on resonance with the c.m. mode frequency, the technique demonstrated here can enable the detection of extremely weak forces (<1 yN) and electric fields (<1 nV/m), providing an opportunity to probe quantum sensing limits and search for physics beyond the standard model.

arXiv:1703.05369•Physical Review Letters•Jun 29, 2017•58 citations

Dynamics of axialized laser-cooled ions in a Penning trap

E. S. Phillips, Richard Hendricks, A M Abdulla +5 more

We report the experimental characterization of axialization---a method of reducing the magnetron motion of a small number of ions stored in a Penning trap. This is an important step in the investigation of the suitability of Penning traps for quantum-information processing. The magnetron motion was coupled to the laser-cooled modified cyclotron motion by the application of a near-resonant oscillating quadrupole potential (the ``axialization drive''). Measurement of cooling rates of the radial motions of the ions showed an order-of-magnitude increase in the damping rate of the magnetron motion with the axialization drive applied. The experimental results are in good qualitative agreement with a recent theoretical study. In particular, a classical avoided crossing was observed in the motional frequencies as the axialization drive frequency was swept through the optimum value, proving that axialization is indeed a resonant effect.

arXiv:0710.4401•Physical Review A•Sep 3, 2008•16 citations

Phase-coherent sensing of the center-of-mass motion of trapped-ion crystals

M. Affolter, Kevin Gilmore, J. E. Jordan +1 more

Trapped ions are sensitive detectors of weak forces and electric fields that excite ion motion. Here measurements of the center-of-mass motion of a trapped-ion crystal that are phase coherent with an applied weak external force are reported. These experiments are conducted far from the trap motional frequency on a two-dimensional trapped-ion crystal of approximately 100 ions, and determine the fundamental measurement imprecision of our protocol free from noise associated with the center-of-mass mode. The driven sinusoidal displacement of the crystal is detected by coupling the ion crystal motion to the internal spin degree of freedom of the ions using an oscillating spin-dependent optical dipole force. The resulting induced spin precession is proportional to the displacement amplitude of the crystal, and is measured with near-projection-noise-limited resolution. A $49\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{pm}$ displacement is detected with a signal-to-noise ratio of 1 in a single experimental determination, which is an order-of-magnitude improvement over prior phase-incoherent experiments. This displacement amplitude is 40 times smaller than the zero-point fluctuations. With our repetition rate, an $8.4\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{pm}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ displacement sensitivity is achieved, which implies $12\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}(\mathrm{yN}/\mathrm{ion})/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ and $77\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}(\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{V}/\mathrm{m})/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ sensitivities to forces and electric fields, respectively. This displacement sensitivity, when applied on-resonance with the center-of-mass mode, indicates the possibility of weak force and electric field detection below ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{yN}$/ion and $1\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{nV}$/m, respectively.

arXiv:2008.00035•Physical Review A•Nov 9, 2020•25 citations

Quantum parameter estimation of nonlinear coupling in a trilinear Hamiltonian with trapped ions

Peter A. Ivanov

I propose an efficient method for measuring nonlinear coupling between the collective axial breathing mode and the radial rocking mode induced by the mutual Coulomb repulsion in linear ion crystal. The quantum sensing technique is based on the laser-induced coupling between one of the vibrational modes and the internal ion's spin states which allows to estimate the nonlinear coupling either by measuring the phonon probability distribution or by directly observing the Ramsey-type oscillations of the ion spin states. I show that due to the presence of nonlinear phonon coupling the off-resonance interaction between the ion spin states and the axial breathing mode leads to spin-dependent phonon squeezing of the radial rocking mode. Thus the nonlinear coupling can be estimated by measuring population distribution of the motional squeezed state. Furthermore, I show that the off-resonance interaction between the spin and the radial rocking mode creates a spin-dependent beam splitter operation between the two vibrational modes. Thus the parameter estimation can be carried out by detecting the ion spin populations. Finally, I show that the measurement uncertainty precision can reach the Heisenberg limit by using an entangled state between the two collective modes.

arXiv:2112.12487•Physical Review A•Mar 28, 2022•6 citations
In traditional mechanics, harmonic oscillators can be used to measure force, acceleration, or rotation. Herein, we describe a quantum harmonic oscillator based on a Penning-trapped calcium ion crystal. Similar to traditional oscillators, the Coriolis force-induced axial oscillation amplitude is precisely measured to determine the input velocity. We show that the magnetron motion can be controlled through the rotating wall driving and treated as the driving oscillator. The Coriolis force couples with the magnetron motion and induces vibration in the axial direction or the z direction. The center of mass motion of the ion crystal in the axial direction could be precisely detected by the entanglement between the spins of the ions and the harmonic motion through lasers. The frequency of the magnetron motion needs to meet that of the axial motion under certain conditions, and, thus, the axial motion could be tuned to the resonance peak for maximum detection signal. We provided the parameter spaces for the matching of the magnetron frequencies with those of the axial frequencies. The measurement sensitivity was calculated in detail, and results show that a rotation angular velocity of 3.0×10−9rad/s/Hz could be achieved with 10 000 ions. Amplitude sensing could reach a sensitivity of 0.4 pm/Hz. With spin squeezing, the sensitivity could be further improved.
In traditional mechanics, harmonic oscillators can be used to measure force, acceleration, or rotation. Herein, we describe a quantum harmonic oscillator based on a penning trapped calcium ion crystal. Similar to traditional oscillators, the Coriolis force induced axial oscillation amplitude is precisely measured to determine the input velocity. We show that the magnetron motion can be controlled through the rotating wall driving and treated as the driving oscillator. The Coriolis force couples with the magnetron motion and induces vibration in the axial direction or the zzz direction. The center of mass motion of the ion crystal in the axial direction could be precisely detected by the entanglement between the spins of the ions and the harmonic motion through lasers. The frequency of the magnetron motion needs to meet that of the axial motion under certain conditions and thus the axial motion could be tuned to the resonance peak for maximum detection signal. We gave the parameter spaces for the meeting of the magnetron frequencies to that of the axial frequencies. The measurement sensitivity was calculated in details and results show that rotation angular velocity of 3.0×10−9rad/s/Hz3.0\times10^{-9}rad/s/\sqrt{Hz}3.0×10−9rad/s/Hz​ could achieve with 10000 ions. Amplitude sensing could reach sensitivity of 0.4pm/Hzpm/\sqrt{Hz}pm/Hz​. With spin squeezing, the sensitivity could be further improved.
In this paper, the dynamics of an unbalanced two-ion crystal comprising the ``target'' and the ``sensor'' ions confined in a Penning trap along the magnetic-field axis has been studied. First, the low amplitude regime is addressed. In this regime, the overall potential including the Coulomb repulsion between the ions can be considered harmonic and the axial, magnetron, and reduced-cyclotron modes split up into the so-called stretch and common modes, that are generalizations of the well-known ``breathing'' and ``center-of-mass'' motions of a balanced crystal made of two ions. By using optical detection to measure the frequencies of the modes of the crystal, and of the sensor ion on its own, in the quantum regime of motion, it will be possible to determine the target ion's free-cyclotron frequency. The nonharmonicity of the Coulomb interaction is also discussed since this causes large systematic effects, which are minimized due to the high sensitivity of the optical detection method when the crystal is cooled to the ground state of motion in the Penning trap.
We present a technique to measure the amplitude of a center-of-mass (c.m.) motion of a two-dimensional ion crystal of ∼100 ions. By sensing motion at frequencies far from the c.m. resonance frequency, we experimentally determine the technique's measurement imprecision. We resolve amplitudes as small as 50 pm, 40 times smaller than the c.m. mode zero-point fluctuations. The technique employs a spin-dependent, optical-dipole force to couple the mechanical oscillation to the electron spins of the trapped ions, enabling a measurement of one quadrature of the c.m. motion through a readout of the spin state. We demonstrate sensitivity limits set by spin projection noise and spin decoherence due to off-resonant light scattering. When performed on resonance with the c.m. mode frequency, the technique demonstrated here can enable the detection of extremely weak forces (<1 yN) and electric fields (<1 nV/m), providing an opportunity to probe quantum sensing limits and search for physics beyond the standard model.
We report the experimental characterization of axialization---a method of reducing the magnetron motion of a small number of ions stored in a Penning trap. This is an important step in the investigation of the suitability of Penning traps for quantum-information processing. The magnetron motion was coupled to the laser-cooled modified cyclotron motion by the application of a near-resonant oscillating quadrupole potential (the ``axialization drive''). Measurement of cooling rates of the radial motions of the ions showed an order-of-magnitude increase in the damping rate of the magnetron motion with the axialization drive applied. The experimental results are in good qualitative agreement with a recent theoretical study. In particular, a classical avoided crossing was observed in the motional frequencies as the axialization drive frequency was swept through the optimum value, proving that axialization is indeed a resonant effect.
Trapped ions are sensitive detectors of weak forces and electric fields that excite ion motion. Here measurements of the center-of-mass motion of a trapped-ion crystal that are phase coherent with an applied weak external force are reported. These experiments are conducted far from the trap motional frequency on a two-dimensional trapped-ion crystal of approximately 100 ions, and determine the fundamental measurement imprecision of our protocol free from noise associated with the center-of-mass mode. The driven sinusoidal displacement of the crystal is detected by coupling the ion crystal motion to the internal spin degree of freedom of the ions using an oscillating spin-dependent optical dipole force. The resulting induced spin precession is proportional to the displacement amplitude of the crystal, and is measured with near-projection-noise-limited resolution. A 49pm49\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{pm}49pm displacement is detected with a signal-to-noise ratio of 1 in a single experimental determination, which is an order-of-magnitude improvement over prior phase-incoherent experiments. This displacement amplitude is 40 times smaller than the zero-point fluctuations. With our repetition rate, an 8.4pm/Hz8.4\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{pm}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}8.4pm/Hz​ displacement sensitivity is achieved, which implies 12(yN/ion)/Hz12\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}(\mathrm{yN}/\mathrm{ion})/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}12(yN/ion)/Hz​ and $77\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}(\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{V}/\mathrm{m})/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ sensitivities to forces and electric fields, respectively. This displacement sensitivity, when applied on-resonance with the center-of-mass mode, indicates the possibility of weak force and electric field detection below ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{yN}$/ion and 1nV1\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{nV}1nV/m, respectively.
I propose an efficient method for measuring nonlinear coupling between the collective axial breathing mode and the radial rocking mode induced by the mutual Coulomb repulsion in linear ion crystal. The quantum sensing technique is based on the laser-induced coupling between one of the vibrational modes and the internal ion's spin states which allows to estimate the nonlinear coupling either by measuring the phonon probability distribution or by directly observing the Ramsey-type oscillations of the ion spin states. I show that due to the presence of nonlinear phonon coupling the off-resonance interaction between the ion spin states and the axial breathing mode leads to spin-dependent phonon squeezing of the radial rocking mode. Thus the nonlinear coupling can be estimated by measuring population distribution of the motional squeezed state. Furthermore, I show that the off-resonance interaction between the spin and the radial rocking mode creates a spin-dependent beam splitter operation between the two vibrational modes. Thus the parameter estimation can be carried out by detecting the ion spin populations. Finally, I show that the measurement uncertainty precision can reach the Heisenberg limit by using an entangled state between the two collective modes.