Seminar
Tuesday, 15 June, 2010
Group Seminar LMU: Quantum simulation of the Dirac equation with trapped ions
Tuesday, 15.06.2010 10 a.m. (s.t.) in H107, Fakultät für Physik LMU
Dr. Rene Gerritsma, Institut für Quantenoptik und Quanteninformation, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften
Crystals of trapped ions form an ideal system for studying fundamental questions in quantum information science. Over recent years special interest has grown in using trapped ions to simulate other quantum mechanical systems that are not readily accessible in experiments. Moreover, the unprecedented control of experimental parameters might make it possible to explore new physical regimes of these systems. In a recent experiment we simulated the 1+1 dimensional Dirac equation using a single trapped ion (based on Lamata et al., PRL 98, 253005 (2007)). Straight-forward adjustment of experimental parameters makes it possible to simulate both mass-less and massive free particles in the relativistic and classical limits. We observe Zitterbewegung in the simulated particle motion and investigate various parameter regimes. The simulation can be extended to include external potentials. Using two trapped ions, we simulate a Dirac particle on a slope and in a quadratic potential and observe Klein tunnelling.