Motional studies of one and two laser-cooled trapped ions for electric-field sensing applications

TL;DR

This study investigates the motional behavior of one and two laser-cooled trapped calcium ions under different electric field excitations, aiming to enhance electric-field sensing techniques using ion traps.

Contribution

It provides a comparative analysis of ion motional states under harmonic and noise-driven electric fields, advancing understanding for improved ion-based sensing methods.

Findings

Distinct motional states induced by different electric fields

Enhanced Brownian motion due to electric noise

Sensitivity comparison between single and two-ion systems

Abstract

We have studied the dynamics of one and two laser-cooled trapped $^{40}$Ca$^+$ ions by applying electric fields of different nature along the axial direction of the trap, namely, driving the motion with a harmonic dipolar field, or with white noise. These two types of driving induce distinct motional states of the axial modes; a coherent oscillation with the dipolar field, or an enhanced Brownian motion due to an additional contribution to the heating rate from the electric noise. In both scenarios, the sensitivity of an isolated ion and a laser-cooled two-ion crystal has been evaluated and compared. The analysis and understanding of this dynamics is important towards the implementation of a novel Penning-trap mass-spectroscopy technique based on optical detection, aiming at improving precision and sensitivity.