Engineering spin-spin interactions with optical tweezers in trapped ions

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel method using optical tweezers to engineer and tune spin-spin interactions in trapped-ion quantum simulators, enabling more complex quantum Hamiltonians.

Contribution

The authors propose a new optical tweezer-based technique to control interactions in trapped-ion systems, surpassing current power-law limitations.

Findings

Feasible implementation with realistic parameters

Ability to generate complex interaction patterns

Enhanced quantum simulation capabilities

Abstract

We propose a new method for generating programmable interactions in one- and two-dimensional trapped-ion quantum simulators. Here we consider the use of optical tweezers to engineer the sound-wave spectrum of trapped ion crystals. We show that this approach allows us to tune the interactions and connectivity of the ion qubits beyond the power-law interactions accessible in current setups. We demonstrate the experimental feasibility of our proposal using realistic tweezer settings and experimentally relevant trap parameters to generate the optimal tweezer patterns to create target spin-spin interaction patterns in both one- and two-dimensional crystals. Our approach will advance quantum simulation in trapped-ion platforms as it allows them to realize a broader family of quantum spin Hamiltonians.