Coupling two laser-cooled ions via a room-temperature conductor

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a novel method to couple two trapped ions at room temperature using a metallic wire, enabling remote interaction and potential quantum information applications.

Contribution

It introduces a new technique for ion coupling via a room-temperature conductor, extending interaction distances beyond free-space dipole coupling.

Findings

Coupling rate of 11 Hz achieved between ions.

Room-temperature conductor mediates ion interactions.

Surface electric-field noise limits quantum-coherent coupling.

Abstract

We demonstrate coupling between the motions of two independently trapped ions with a separation distance of 620 $\mu$m. The ion-ion interaction is enhanced via a room-temperature electrically floating metallic wire which connects two surface traps. Tuning the motion of both ions into resonance, we show flow of energy with a coupling rate of 11 Hz. Quantum-coherent coupling is hindered by strong surface electric-field noise in our device. Our ion wire-ion system demonstrates that room-temperature conductors can be used to mediate and tune interactions between independently trapped charges over distances beyond those achievable with free-space dipole-dipole coupling. This technology may be used to sympathetically cool or entangle remotely trapped charges and enable coupling between disparate physical systems.