What is causing trapped ions to heat up? In an ion trap, electrodes (shown here in gold) produce electric fields that confine the ion (green sphere) to a small volume. Randomly fluctuating dipoles on the surface of these electrodes generate electric field noise. The dipoles form when single atoms adsorb on the metal surface. Vibrations (phonons) in the metal cause the dipoles (purple arrows) to fluctuate. Ions trapped in the vicinity of the metal surface sense these electric field changes and heat up.

Viewpoint

Atomic and Molecular Physics

Physics 4, 66 (2011)DOI: 10.1103/Physics.4.66

All that is gold does not glitter

Nikos Daniilidis and Hartmut HäffnerDepartment of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-7300, USA

Published August 22, 2011

A microscopic model offers new insight into a pernicious source of electric field noise in ion traps.

More here ....

A Viewpoint on:

Microscopic model of electric-field-noise heating in ion traps

A. Safavi-Naini, P. Rabl, P. F. Weck, and H. R. Sadeghpour

Phys. Rev. A 84, 023412 (2011) – Published August 22, 2011

Download PDF (free)

Artificial Atoms Can Do More Than Atoms

In a recently published work in Physical Review Letters, we have shown that artificial atoms made of a large number of single atoms can exhibit superior properties compared to their individual counterparts. Our results provide a way to novel applications in photonic devices used for quantum communication and quantum metrology.

In our work, we investigate an ensemble of strongly interacting atoms as found in Rydberg atoms or semiconductor quantum dots. The interaction of these systems with light can be described by an artificial atom with only two energy levels. However, when applying controlled noise to the system, this approximation breaks down and additional energy levels have to be taken into account. If a light beam is then sent through the system, these additional levels result in exactly one photon being removed from the beam. This single photon absorption process can be used in number resolving photon counters or for the creation of non-classical states of light.

Reference: J. Honer, R. Löw, H. Weimer, T. Pfau, H. P. Büchler, Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 093601 (2011).
See also: Synopsis in Physics

ITAMP 2011 DAMOP presentations (in Atlanta, GA)

 Babb

10:30 AM–12:30 PM, Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Room: A705
Chair: Ed Eyler, University of Connecticut

Abstract: B5.00007 : Partial derivatives of eigenvalues without finite differences

11:42 AM–11:54 AM
http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147020

Babb

4:00 PM–4:00 PM, Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Room: Atrium Ballroom BC
Abstract: E1.00059 : Long-Range Three-Body Dispersion Interactions

http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147137

Capogrosso

8:00 AM–10:00 AM, Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Room: A704

Chair: Nathan Gemelke, Pennsylvania State University

Abstract: H4.00003 : Pair-Supersolidity of Dipoles in a Bilayer System

8:42 AM–8:54 AM
http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147294

Capogrosso

10:30 AM–12:30 PM, Thursday, June 16, 2011
Room: A602

Chair: Markus Greiner, Harvard University

Abstract: N2.00005 : Quantum magnetic phases in harmonically trapped two-component bosons

11:18 AM–11:30 AM
http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147674

Demler

10:30 AM–12:30 PM, Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Room: A704
Chair: Benjamin Lev, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Abstract: B4.00005 : Quantum Magnetism with Polar Alkali Dimers

11:54 AM–12:06 PMhttp://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147010

 Demler
4:00 PM–4:00 PM, Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Room: Atrium Ballroom BC
Abstract: E1.00012 : Emulating Quantum Magnetism and t--J Models in Systems of Ultracold Polar Molecules

http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147090

Demler
0:30 AM–12:30 PM, Thursday, June 16, 2011
Room: A705
Chair: Josh Zirbel, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Abstract: N5.00003 : Non-Equilibrium Dynamics of 1d Bose Gases Studied via Noise Distributions
10:54 AM–11:06 AM
http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147699

Demler

8:00 AM–10:00 AM, Friday, June 17, 2011
Room: A705
Chair: Alex Kuzmich, Georgia Institute of Technology

Abstract: T5.00006 : Robust optical delay lines via topological protection

9:00 AM–9:12 AM http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147977

Demler

 8:00 AM–10:00 AM, Friday, June 17, 2011
Room: A706
Chair: Georg Raithel, University of Michigan

Abstract: T6.00007 : Majorana Fermions in Cold Atom Quantum Wires

9:48 AM–10:00 AM http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147989

Feist

2:00 PM–4:00 PM, Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Room: A705

Chair: Arvinder Sandhu, University of ArizonaAbstract: K5.00003 : Attosecond pump-probe of doubly excited states in helium

2:24 PM–2:36 PM http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147406

Feist

2:00 PM–4:00 PM, Thursday, June 16, 2011
Room: A602

Chair: David Reis, SLAC and Standford University

Abstract: P2.00003 : Time-resolved photoemission by attosecond streaking: extraction of time information

2:42 PM–2:54 PM
http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147726

Gacesa

8:00 AM–10:00 AM, Friday, June 17, 2011
Room: A601

Chair: Steven Manson, Georgia State University

Abstract: T1.00006 : Energy transfer in collisions of atmospheric O and H$_2$

9:36 AM–9:48 AM

 http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147948

Kharchenko

8:00 AM–10:00 AM, Friday, June 17, 2011
Room: A601

Chair: Steven Manson, Georgia State University

Abstract: T1.00006 : Energy transfer in collisions of atmospheric O and H$_2$

9:36 AM–9:48 AM
 http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147948

Kuznetsova

8:00 AM–10:00 AM, Thursday, June 16, 2011
Room: A705
Chair: Emily Edwards, JQI and University of Maryland

Abstract: M5.00007 : Cluster state generation using long-range interactions

9:12 AM–9:24 AMhttp://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147652

Kuznetsova

4:00 PM–4:00 PM, Thursday, June 16, 2011
Room: Atrium Ballroom BC
Abstract: Q1.00147 : Rydberg molecules mediated interaction between polar molecules: a new tool to realize two-qubit gates

http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147915

 Loreau

10:30 AM–12:30 PM, Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Room: A703

Chair: Francis Robicheaux, Auburn University

Abstract: J3.00009 : Isotope effect on charge transfer in collisions of H with He$^+$ and He$^{2+}$

12:06 PM–12:18 PM
http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147340

 Lukin

10:30 AM–12:30 PM, Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Room: A703
Chair: Gretchen Campbell, JQI and NIST
Abstract: B3.00009 : Sub-wavelength optical trapping and manipulation using far-field optics
12:06 PM–12:18 PM http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147003

 Lukin

10:30 AM–12:30 PM, Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Room: A704

Chair: Benjamin Lev, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Abstract: B4.00005 : Quantum Magnetism with Polar Alkali Dimers

11:54 AM–12:06 PM http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147010

Lukin

4:00 PM–4:00 PM, Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Room: Atrium Ballroom BC

Abstract: E1.00012 : Emulating Quantum Magnetism and t--J Models in Systems of Ultracold Polar Molecules

 http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147090

Lukin

4:00 PM–4:00 PM, Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Room: Atrium Ballroom BC

Abstract: E1.00096 : Towards room temperature magnetic sensing of a single electron spin in biological systems

http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147174

 Lukin

 4:00 PM–4:00 PM, Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Room: Atrium Ballroom BC

Abstract: E1.00042 : A Nanoplasmonic Lattice for Quantum Simulation with Cold Atoms

 http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147120

 Lukin   

4:00 PM–4:00 PM, Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Room: Atrium Ballroom BC

Abstract: E1.00097 : All optical real-time measurement and preparation of nuclear spin states around an individual NV center in diamond

 http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147175

  Lukin  

 4:00 PM–4:00 PM, Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Room: Atrium Ballroom BC

Abstract: E1.00098 : Measurement-Based Nuclear Spin Cooling in NV Centers

 http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147176

 Lukin 

4:00 PM–4:00 PM, Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Room: Atrium Ballroom BC

Abstract: E1.00099 : Sensing thermal motion of a mechanical resonator using a single spin qubit in diamond

http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147177


Lukin  

4:00 PM–4:00 PM, Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Room: Atrium Ballroom BC

Abstract: E1.00100 : Long-lived solid-state room-temperature quantum memory

http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147178



Lukin  

4:00 PM–4:00 PM, Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Room: Atrium Ballroom BC

Abstract: E1.00148 : Topologically Protected Quantum State Transfer

http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147226

 Lukin 
4 :00 PM–4:00 PM, Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Room: Atrium Ballroom BC
Abstract: E1.00152 : Coupling of NV centers to microscopic cavities
http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147230

 Lukin

8:00 AM–10:00 AM, Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Room: A602
Chair: Tatjana Curcic, Air Force Office of Scientific Research

Abstract: H2.00001 : Optics with Nitrogen Vacancy Centers in Diamond

8:00 AM–8:30 AM
http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147273

 Lukin

8:00 AM–10:00 AM, Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Room: A602
Chair: Tatjana Curcic, Air Force Office of Scientific Research

Abstract: H2.00002 : Magnetic field imaging with NV ensembles

8:30 AM–8:42 AM http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147274

 Lukin

4:00 PM–4:00 PM, Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Room: Atrium Ballroom BC

Abstract: L1.00108 : Hybrid Devices for Cavity QED in Solid State Systems

 http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147538

 Lukin

8:00 AM–10:00 AM, Thursday, June 16, 2011
Room: A705
Chair: Emily Edwards, JQI and University of Maryland

Abstract: M5.00004 : Long-range quantum gates using external symmetry breaking

8:36 AM–8:48 AM
http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147649

 Lukin
4:00 PM–4:00 PM, Thursday, June 16, 2011

Room: Atrium Ballroom BC

Abstract: Q1.00121 : Nanowire Plasmon Resonators

http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147888

 Lukin

4:00 PM–4:00 PM, Thursday, June 16, 2011
Room: Atrium Ballroom BC
Abstract: Q1.00137 : A nanoscale quantum interface for single atoms

http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147905

 Lukin

8:00 AM–10:00 AM, Friday, June 17, 2011
Room: A703
Chair: Steve Rolston, JQI and University of Maryland

Abstract: T3.00010 : Dark-State Polaritons with Rydberg Interactions

9:48 AM–10:00 AMhttp://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147965


Lukin

8:00 AM–10:00 AM, Friday, June 17, 2011
Room: A705
Chair: Alex Kuzmich, Georgia Institute of Technology

Abstract: T5.00006 : Robust optical delay lines via topological protection

9:00 AM–9:12 AMhttp://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147977

 Lukin
8:00 AM–10:00 AM, Friday, June 17, 2011

Room: A706
Chair: Georg Raithel, University of Michigan

Abstract: T6.00007 : Majorana Fermions in Cold Atom Quantum Wires

9:48 AM–10:00 AMhttp://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147989

Mathy

8:00 AM–10:00 AM, Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Room: A601

Chair: Ken O'Hara, Pennsylvania State University

Abstract: H1.00003 : Universal features of strongly polarized mass imbalanced fermi gases

8:24 AM–8:36 AM
http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147264

Rittenhouse

4:00 PM–4:00 PM, Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Room: Atrium Ballroom BC
Abstract: L1.00004 : A Dielectric Superfluid of Polar Molecules

http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147434
  
Rittenhouse

2:00 PM–4:00 PM, Thursday, June 16, 2011
Room: A706

Chair: Doerte Blume, Washington State UniversityAbstract: P6.00003 : Probing universal few-body dynamics

3:00 PM–3:30 PM
http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147764

 Rittenhouse

4:00 PM–4:00 PM, Thursday, June 16, 2011
Room: Atrium Ballroom BC
Abstract: Q1.00008 : Ultralong-range polyatomic Rydberg molecules formed by a polar perturber

 http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147774

 Rittenhouse

4:00 PM–4:00 PM, Thursday, June 16, 2011
Room: Atrium Ballroom BC

Abstract: Q1.00147 : Rydberg molecules mediated interaction between polar molecules: a new tool to realize two-qubit gates

http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147915

 

Sadeghpour

4:00 PM–4:00 PM, Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Room: Atrium Ballroom BC
Abstract: L1.00151 : Self-broadening of helium $^1D$ and $^3D$ lines

http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147582

 

Sadeghpour

4:00 PM–4:00 PM, Thursday, June 16, 2011
Room: Atrium Ballroom BC
Abstract: Q1.00008 : Ultralong-range polyatomic Rydberg molecules formed by a polar perturber

 http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147774

 

Sadeghpour

4:00 PM–4:00 PM, Thursday, June 16, 2011
Room: Atrium Ballroom BC
Abstract: Q1.00147 : Rydberg molecules mediated interaction between polar molecules: a new tool to realize two-qubit gates

http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147915

 

Sadeghpour

10:30 AM–12:30 PM, Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Room: A601
Chair: Jake Taylor, JQI and NISTAbstract: J1.00003 : An ab-initio model of anomalous heating in planar ion traps

10:54 AM–11:06 AM
http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147318

Weimer

4:00 PM–4:00 PM, Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Room: Atrium Ballroom BC
Abstract: E1.00148 : Topologically Protected Quantum State Transfer

http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147226

Weimer

8:00 AM–10:00 AM, Thursday, June 16, 2011
Room: A705
Chair: Emily Edwards, JQI and University of Maryland

Abstract: M5.00004 : Long-range quantum gates using external symmetry breaking

8:36 AM–8:48 AM
http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147649

Yelin

4:00 PM–4:00 PM, Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Room: Atrium Ballroom BC

Abstract: E1.00097 : All optical real-time measurement and preparation of nuclear spin states around an individual NV center in diamond

http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147175

Yelin 

4:00 PM–4:00 PM, Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Room: Atrium Ballroom BC

Abstract: E1.00098 : Measurement-Based Nuclear Spin Cooling in NV Centers

http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147176

Yelin

8:00 AM–10:00 AM, Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Room: A703
Chair: Ivan Deutsch, University of New Mexico

Abstract: H3.00006 : Superradiance in spin-J atoms: Effects of multiple atomic levels

9:00 AM–9:12 AM
http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147286

Yelin

8:00 AM–10:00 AM, Thursday, June 16, 2011
Room: A705
Chair: Emily Edwards, JQI and University of Maryland

Abstract: M5.00007 : Cluster state generation using long-range interactions

9:12 AM–9:24 AM
http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147652

Yelin

4:00 PM–4:00 PM, Thursday, June 16, 2011
Room: Atrium Ballroom BC

Abstract: Q1.00136 : On nearest-neighbor interactions of cold polar molecules in two-color arrays

 http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147904

Yelin

4:00 PM–4:00 PM, Thursday, June 16, 2011
Room: Atrium Ballroom BC

Abstract: Q1.00147 : Rydberg molecules mediated interaction between polar molecules: a new tool to realize two-qubit gates

 http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147915

Zhang

4:00 PM–4:00 PM, Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Room: Atrium Ballroom BC
Abstract: L1.00151 : Self-broadening of helium $^1D$ and $^3D$ lines

http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147582

Zhang 

 8:00 AM–10:00 AM, Friday, June 17, 2011
Room: A601

Chair: Steven Manson, Georgia State University

Abstract: T1.00006 : Energy transfer in collisions of atmospheric O and H$_2$

9:36 AM–9:48 AM
 http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP11/Event/147948

talk by Swati Singh

Swati is talking about hybrid approaches to quantum mechanical cooling, in this case to a BEC as the medium. Phase contrast imaging was used by Stamper-Kurn and Mukund Vengalattore to major the local spin domains in BEC. She is studying the feasibility of measuring the backaction.

Photon scattering losses when objects are levitated to minimize environmental losses, enter the picture. Dipole scattering is not the major issue, as the losses are mostly in the forward direction. Motional squeezing in cantilevers with dipole-dipole interaction, is being discussed. The non-linearity of dipolar interaction is used.

talk by Dan Brooks

He is talking about a microchip trap coupled to a cavity with an optomechanical hamiltonian containing both linear and quadratic couplings of photon and atomic COM. The detuning is about 20 MHz from the cavity resonance, with coupling parameters of order unity (small mass and Young's modulus). In linear coupling regime, the OM power intensity shows a dip when the trap is filled, due to so-called ponderomotive squeezing. The oscillations in the COM motion include a lot of mode excitations and likely the bath mode has frequency dependence.

talk by Oriol Romero-Isart

Oriol is talking about matter wave interferometry with levitating microspheres- real Sch. cats. Two strategies exist for quantum superposition: use the inherent non-linearity or inject non-linearity (with light, for instance). The measurement is done in analogy with atomic physics through "time of flight". Can optomechanics help with interferometry? First cooling, then expansion by TOF, and measure by putting the bead at the node of the cavity. The, allow for more TOF, and measurement of the position. The coupling to the cavity can done thru. linear or quadratic coupling. Using larger matter waves can extend the coupling too. The most important limiting factor is pressure.

talk by Mark Raizen

Mark is discussing how the Brownian motion of macroscopic objects can be controlled. Fabricated microsphere (~ 1 micron diameter) are launched in high voltage and shaken off in air. The largest force turns out to be van der Waals force. The beads scatter photons in the focus of the laser beam. The power spectra of a 3.01 micron bead were shown. The time scale for a 3 micron silica instantaneous motion (velocity) is about 1.2 micro-sec for water and 56 micro-sec for air, giving a resolution restriction of about 100 nano-sec and 4 pico-meter for H_2O and more forgiving for air. The test of equipartition theorem is confirmed.

Now the challenge is to confirm the Brownian motion is water. Preliminary results appear to show ballistic motion- possible breakdown of the equipartition theorem? It shall be seen.

Moving toward the quantum limit; mK cooling of microbeads has been achieved. In arXiv, accepted for publication. Applications: spraying charges and using as thermometer, or for sympathetic cooling of antihydrogen.