Quench Dynamics of Two Coupled Ionic Zig-Zag Chains

TL;DR

This paper investigates the non-equilibrium behavior of two coupled ionic zig-zag chains after a potential quench, revealing complex melting and ordered phases, analyzed through normal modes and order measures.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of quench-induced dynamics in coupled ion chains, highlighting the emergence of order and mode interactions not previously characterized.

Findings

Chains exhibit phases of order during melting

Normal mode analysis shows population transfer between few modes

Ordered structures include arcs, lines, and crosses

Abstract

We explore the non-equilibrium dynamics of two coupled zig-zag chains of trapped ions in a double well potential. Following a quench of the potential barrier between both wells, the induced coupling between both chains due to the long-range interaction of the ions leads to their complete melting. The resulting dynamics is however not exclusively irregular but leads to phases of motion during which various ordered structures appear with ions arranged in arcs, lines and crosses. We quantify the emerging order by introducing a suitable measure and complement our analysis of the ion dynamics using a normal mode analysis showing a decisive population transfer between only a few distinguished modes.