Quantum nanofriction in trapped ion chains with a topological defect

verfasst von: L. Timm, L. A. Rüffert, H. Weimer, L. Santos, T. E. Mehlstäubler
Abstract: Trapped ion systems constitute a well controllable scenario for the study and emulation of nanofriction, and in particular of Frenkel-Kontorova-like models. This is in particular the case when a topological defect is created in a zigzag ion Coulomb crystal, which results in an Aubry transition from free sliding to pinned phase as a function of the trap aspect ratio. We explore the quantum effects of the Aubry transition by means of an effective simplified model, in which the defect is treated like a single quantum particle that experiences an effective Peierls-Nabarro potential and a position-dependent mass. We demonstrate the relevance of quantum tunneling in a finite range of aspect ratios close the critical point, showing that the quantum effects may be observed in the kink dynamics for sufficiently low temperatures. Finally, we discuss the requirements to reveal quantum effects at the Aubry transition in future experiments on trapped ions.
Organisationseinheit(en): QuantumFrontiers
Institut für Theoretische Physik
Institut für Quantenoptik
SFB 1227: Designte Quantenzustände der Materie (DQ-mat)
Externe Organisation(en): Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB)
Typ: Artikel
Journal: Physical Review Research
Band: 3
ISSN: 2643-1564
Publikationsdatum: 29.11.2021
Publikationsstatus: Veröffentlicht
Peer-reviewed: Ja
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete: Physik und Astronomie (insg.)
Elektronische Version(en): https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2108.07635 (Zugang: Offen)
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.3.043141 (Zugang: Offen)

BibTeX

@article{47f5d6fe5f1549438e86d9d513b3ef10,
title = "Quantum nanofriction in trapped ion chains with a topological defect",
abstract = "Trapped ion systems constitute a well controllable scenario for the study and emulation of nanofriction, and in particular of Frenkel-Kontorova-like models. This is in particular the case when a topological defect is created in a zigzag ion Coulomb crystal, which results in an Aubry transition from free sliding to pinned phase as a function of the trap aspect ratio. We explore the quantum effects of the Aubry transition by means of an effective simplified model, in which the defect is treated like a single quantum particle that experiences an effective Peierls-Nabarro potential and a position-dependent mass. We demonstrate the relevance of quantum tunneling in a finite range of aspect ratios close the critical point, showing that the quantum effects may be observed in the kink dynamics for sufficiently low temperatures. Finally, we discuss the requirements to reveal quantum effects at the Aubry transition in future experiments on trapped ions.",
keywords = "cond-mat.quant-gas, physics.atom-ph, quant-ph",
author = "L. Timm and R{\"u}ffert, {L. A.} and H. Weimer and L. Santos and Mehlst{\"a}ubler, {T. E.}",
note = "Funding Information: We thank Jan Kiethe for fruitful discussions. This project has been funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Germany's Excellence Strategy - EXC-2123 QuantumFrontiers–390837967 and through CRC 1227 (DQ-mat), project A07. This project 17FUN07 CC4C has received funding from the EMPIR programme cofinanced by the Participating States and from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.",
year = "2021",
month = nov,
day = "29",
doi = "10.48550/arXiv.2108.07635",
language = "English",
volume = "3",
journal = "Physical Review Research",
issn = "2643-1564",
publisher = "American Physical Society",
number = "4",
}