Employing trapped cold ions to verify the quantum Jarzynski equality

TL;DR

This paper proposes using a single trapped ion in a linear Paul trap to experimentally verify the quantum Jarzynski equality by controlling and measuring the ion's motional quantum states under various potential transformations.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed scheme for preparing, manipulating, and reading out the motional quantum state of a single ion to test the quantum Jarzynski equality in both harmonic and anharmonic potentials.

Findings

Method to determine free energy differences in quantum systems.

Feasibility of using trapped ions to study quantum thermodynamics.

Potential to explore open and closed quantum system dynamics.

Abstract

We propose a scheme to investigate the nonequilibrium work distribution of a quantum particle under well controlled transformations of the external potential, exploiting the versatility of a single ion in a segmented linear Paul trap. We describe in detail how the motional quantum state of a single ion can be prepared, manipulated and finally read out to fully determine the free energy difference in both harmonic and anharmonic potentials. Uniquely to our system, we show how an ion may be immersed in an engineered laser--field reservoir. Trapped ions therefore represent an ideal tool for investigating the Jarzynski equality in open and closed quantum systems.