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Nanofriction in Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
T Fogarty1, C Cormick2, H Landa3
1Theoretische Physik, Universität des Saarlandes, D-66123 Saarbrücken, Germany.
Physical Review Letters
|December 20, 2015
Summary
Cold trapped ions exhibit complex dynamics influenced by Coulomb repulsion and cavity interactions. This study reveals frustrated dynamics, sliding/pinned phases, and cavity-induced cooling in ion chains.
Area of Science:
- Atomic, Molecular & Optical Physics
- Quantum Optics
- Condensed Matter Physics
Background:
- Cold trapped ions interact via long-range Coulomb repulsion.
- Cavity-induced interactions arise from laser photon scattering within a high-finesse resonator.
- These interactions become significant with strong laser pumping, overcoming photon decay.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the stationary states of ions coupled to a cavity mode.
- Analyze ion dynamics when Coulomb crystallization and photon-mediated interactions have incommensurate length scales.
- Explore the role of cavity parameters and laser strength in ion chain behavior.
Main Methods:
- Numerical simulations of cold trapped ions in a standing-wave cavity.
- Modeling ion dynamics using the Frenkel-Kontorova model in specific limiting cases.
- Analysis of stationary states as a function of cavity and laser parameters.
Main Results:
- Observed frustrated dynamics due to competing self-organizing processes.
- Recovered sliding and pinned phases, with bistable regions exhibiting superlubric and stick-slip dynamics for strong nonlinearities.
- Demonstrated cavity-induced cooling of ion chain vibrations.
Conclusions:
- The interplay between Coulomb repulsion and cavity-induced forces leads to complex, tunable ion dynamics.
- The cavity acts as a controllable thermal reservoir, influencing ion chain temperature.
- Measured cavity radiation provides insights into these quantum electrodynamic phenomena.
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