Influence of static electric fields on an optical ion trap

TL;DR

This paper investigates how static electric fields influence optical ion trapping, highlighting the importance of electric potential configuration, analyzing experimental results with models and simulations, and proposing improvements for future experiments.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of static electric field effects on optical ion traps using models and simulations, and suggests technical enhancements.

Findings

Static electric potentials can hinder optical trapping if not properly configured.

Recoil heating is identified as the main heating mechanism in experiments.

Monte-Carlo simulations show significant impact of static electric fields on trapping success.

Abstract

We recently reported on a proof-of-principle experiment demonstrating optical trapping of an ion in a single-beam dipole trap superimposed by a static electric potential [Nat. Photonics 4, 772--775 (2010)]. Here, we first discuss the experimental procedures focussing on the influence and consequences of the static electric potential. These potentials can easily prevent successful optical trapping, if their configuration is not chosen carefully. Afterwards, we analyse the dipole trap experiments with different analytic models, in which different approximations are applied. According to these models the experimental results agree with recoil heating as the relevant heating effect. In addition, a Monte-Carlo simulation has been developed to refine the analysis. It reveals a large impact of the static electric potential on the dipole trap experiments in general. While it supports the results of the analytic models for the parameters used in the experiments, the analytic models cease their validity for significantly different parameters. Finally, we propose technical improvements for future realizations of experiments with optically trapped ions.