A two-ion pair in a linear Paul trap is extensively used in the research of the simplest quantum-logic system;however,there are few quantitative and comprehensive studies on the motional mode coupling of two-ion syste...A two-ion pair in a linear Paul trap is extensively used in the research of the simplest quantum-logic system;however,there are few quantitative and comprehensive studies on the motional mode coupling of two-ion systems yet.This study proposes a method to investigate the motional mode coupling of sympathetically cooled two-ion crystals by quantifying three-dimensional(3 D)secular spectra of trapped ions using molecular dynamics simulations.The 3 D resonance peaks of the^(40)Ca^(+)–^(27)Al^(+)pair obtained by using this method were in good agreement with the 3 D in-and out-of-phase modes predicted by the mode coupling theory for two ions in equilibrium and the frequency matching errors were lower than 2%.The obtained and predicted amplitudes of these modes were also qualitatively similar.It was observed that the strength of the sympathetic interaction of the^(40)Ca^(+)–^(27)Al^(+)pair was primarily determined by its axial in-phase coupling.In addition,the frequencies and amplitudes of the ion pair's resonance modes(in all dimensions)were sensitive to the relative masses of the ion pair,and a decrease in the mass mismatch enhanced the sympathetic cooling rates.The sympathetic interactions of the^(40)Ca^(+)–^(27)Al^(+)pair were slightly weaker than those of the^(24)Mg^(+)–^(27)Al^(+)pair,but significantly stronger than those of^(9)Be^(+)–^(27)Al^(+).However,the Doppler cooling limit temperature of^(40)Ca^(+)is comparable to that of^(9)Be^(+)but lower than approximately half of that of^(24)Mg^(+).Furthermore,laser cooling systems for^(40)Ca^(+)are more reliable than those for^(24)Mg^(+)and^(9)Be^(+).Therefore,^(40)Ca^(+)is probably the best laser-cooled ion for sympathetic cooling and quantum-logic operations of^(27)Al^(+)and has particularly more notable comprehensive advantages in the development of high reliability,compact,and transportable^(27)Al^(+)optical clocks.This methodology may be extended to multi-ion systems,and it will greatly aid efforts to control the dynamic behaviors of sympathetic cooling as well as the development of low-heating-rate quantum logic clocks.展开更多
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.11803023)the Equipment Pre-research Foundation(Grant No.6142411196406)Key Research and Development Program of Shaanxi Province,China(Grant No.2017ZDXM-GY-113)。
文摘A two-ion pair in a linear Paul trap is extensively used in the research of the simplest quantum-logic system;however,there are few quantitative and comprehensive studies on the motional mode coupling of two-ion systems yet.This study proposes a method to investigate the motional mode coupling of sympathetically cooled two-ion crystals by quantifying three-dimensional(3 D)secular spectra of trapped ions using molecular dynamics simulations.The 3 D resonance peaks of the^(40)Ca^(+)–^(27)Al^(+)pair obtained by using this method were in good agreement with the 3 D in-and out-of-phase modes predicted by the mode coupling theory for two ions in equilibrium and the frequency matching errors were lower than 2%.The obtained and predicted amplitudes of these modes were also qualitatively similar.It was observed that the strength of the sympathetic interaction of the^(40)Ca^(+)–^(27)Al^(+)pair was primarily determined by its axial in-phase coupling.In addition,the frequencies and amplitudes of the ion pair's resonance modes(in all dimensions)were sensitive to the relative masses of the ion pair,and a decrease in the mass mismatch enhanced the sympathetic cooling rates.The sympathetic interactions of the^(40)Ca^(+)–^(27)Al^(+)pair were slightly weaker than those of the^(24)Mg^(+)–^(27)Al^(+)pair,but significantly stronger than those of^(9)Be^(+)–^(27)Al^(+).However,the Doppler cooling limit temperature of^(40)Ca^(+)is comparable to that of^(9)Be^(+)but lower than approximately half of that of^(24)Mg^(+).Furthermore,laser cooling systems for^(40)Ca^(+)are more reliable than those for^(24)Mg^(+)and^(9)Be^(+).Therefore,^(40)Ca^(+)is probably the best laser-cooled ion for sympathetic cooling and quantum-logic operations of^(27)Al^(+)and has particularly more notable comprehensive advantages in the development of high reliability,compact,and transportable^(27)Al^(+)optical clocks.This methodology may be extended to multi-ion systems,and it will greatly aid efforts to control the dynamic behaviors of sympathetic cooling as well as the development of low-heating-rate quantum logic clocks.