Kinks - Simulating Discrete Solitons
Jonathan Brox, Philip Kiefer, and Tobias Schaetz
introduction
In collaboration with Tel-Aviv University and IPhT, CEA Saclay we study experimentally and theoretically structural defects, which are formed during the transition from a laser cooled ion cloud to a Coulomb crystal, consisting of tens of ions. We demonstrate the creation of predicted topological defects (`kinks') in purely two-dimensional crystals, and also find kinks which show novel dynamical features in a regime of parameters not considered before.
The kinks are always observed at the centre of the trap, showing a large nonlinear localized excitation, and the probability of their occurrence surprisingly saturates at ~0.5. Simulations reveal a strong anharmonicity of the kink's internal mode of vibration, due to the kink's extension into three dimensions. As a consequence, the periodic Peierls-Nabarro potential experienced by a discrete kink becomes a globally confining potential, capable of trapping one cooled defect at the center of the crystal.
our tools in the lab
conventional linear Paul trap
|
|
|
further reading
- Spectroscopy and Directed Transport of Topological Solitons in Crystals of Trapped Ions,
J. Brox, P. Kiefer, M. Bujak, H. Landa, T. Schaetz
Phys. Rev. Lett. 119, 153602 (2017) - arXiv:1704.0378 (2017) - Synopsis: Topological Defect on the Move - Entanglement Generation Using Discrete Solitons in Coulomb Crystals
H. Landa, A. Retzker, T. Schaetz, B. Reznik
Phys. Rev. Lett 113, 053001 (2014) - arXiv:1308.2943 (2013) - Structure, Dynamics and Bifurcation of Discrete Solitons in Trapped Ion Crystals
H. Landa, J. Brox, M. Mielenz, T. Schaetz, B. Reznik
New J. Phys. 15, 093003 (2013) - arXiv:1305.6754 (2013) - Trapping of Topological-Structural Defects in Coulomb Crystals
M. Mielenz, J. Brox, S. Kahra, G. Leschhorn, M. Albert, H. Landa, B. Reznik, T. Schaetz
Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 133004 (2013) - arXiv:1211.6867 (2012) - Experimental quantum simulations of many-body physics with trapped ions
Rep. Prog. Phys. 75, 024401 (2012)