Year: 2022
Type: article
Abstract: We investigate the energy dynamics of noncrystallized (melted) ions, confined in a Paul trap. The nonperiodic Coulomb interaction experienced by melted ions forms a medium for nonconservative energy transfer from the radio-frequency (rf) field to the ions, a process known as rf heating. We study rf heating by analyzing numerical simulations of noncrystallized ion motion in Paul trap potentials, in which the energy of the ions' secular motion changes at discrete intervals, corresponding to ion-ion collisions. The analysis of these collisions is used as a basis to derive a simplified model of rf heating energy dynamics, from which we conclude that the rf heating rate is predominantly dependent on the rf field strength. We confirm the predictability of the model experimentally: Two trapped $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}^{+}$ ions are deterministically driven to melt, and their fluorescence rate is used to infer the ions' energy. Under these experimental conditions, we investigate which Doppler cooling parameters are required for efficient recrystallization, and compare our results to simulations.
Source: Physical Review A
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: G4934466994, G8600552770
OpenAlex ID: W3155538038