Quantum nanofriction in trapped ion chains with a topological defect

authored by: 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.
Organisation(s): QuantumFrontiers
Institute of Theoretical Physics
Institute of Quantum Optics
CRC 1227 Designed Quantum States of Matter (DQ-mat)
External Organisation(s): National Metrology Institute of Germany (PTB)
Type: Article
Journal: Physical Review Research
Volume: 3
ISSN: 2643-1564
Publication date: 29.11.2021
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Physics and Astronomy(all)
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2108.07635 (Access: Open)
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.3.043141 (Access: Open)

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",
}