New ion (+atom) trap concepts for quantum simulations
Tobias Schätz
Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, Garching, Germany
University of Freiburg, Germany
Direct experimental access to some of the most intriguing and puzzling
quantum phenomena is difficult due to their fragility to noise. Their
simulation on conventional computers is impossible, since quantum
behaviour is not efficiently translatable in classical language.
However, one could gain deeper insight into complex quantum dynamics via
experimentally simulating the quantum behaviour of interest in another
quantum system, where not all but the relevant parameters and
interactions can be controlled and robust effects detected sufficiently
well. One example is simulating quantum-spin systems with trapped ions.
After
proof of principle experiments based on few ions/spins only, we aim to
explore the limitations and prospects and the options for scaling to
larger and two dimensional systems. On the one hand, we propose our new
trapping architectures based on arrays of radio-frequency traps. On the
other hand, we aim to trigger the discussion how to merge the advantages
for quantum simulations with ions and optical lattices.