Experimental creation and measurement of motional quantum states of a trapped ion

We report the creation and full determination of several quantum states of motion of a 9Be+ ion bound in a rf (Paul) trap. The states are coherently prepared from an ion which has been initially laser cooled to the zero-point of motion. We create states having both classical and nonclassical character including thermal, number, coherent, squeezed, and "Schrödinger cat" states. The motional quantum state is fully reconstructed using two novel schemes that determine the density matrix in the number state basis or the Wigner-function. Our techniques allow well controlled experiments on decoherence and related phenomena on the quantum-classical borderline.

Duke Scholars

Author Christopher R Monroe Electrical and Computer Engineering