Abstract

We sense the motion of a trapped atomic ion using a sequence of state-dependent ultrafast momentum kicks. We use this atom interferometer to characterize a nearly pure quantum state with n = 1 phonon and accurately measure thermal states ranging from near the zero-point energy to (n) over bar similar to 10(4), with the possibility of extending at least 100 times higher in energy. The complete energy range of this method spans from the ground state to far outside of the Lamb-Dicke regime, where atomic motion is greater than the optical wavelength. Apart from thermometry, these interferometric techniques are useful for characterizing ultrafast entangling gates between multiple trapped ions.

Publication Details
Publication Type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2015
Volume
115
DOI
10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.213001
Journal
Physical Review Letters
Contributors