Quantum zigzag transition in ion chains

Details Quantum zigzag transition in ion chains Quantum zigzag transition in ion chains

2010-08-13

arxiv.org/abs/1008.2326v2

Phys. Rev. Lett 106, 010401 (2011)

Physics

Condensed Matter

Statistical Mechanics

4 pages, 1 figure. Revised version, to appear in Phys. Rev. Lett

Scientific paper

10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.010401

A string of trapped ions at zero temperature exhibits a structural phase transition to a zigzag structure, tuned by reducing the transverse trap potential or the interparticle distance. The transition is driven by transverse, short wavelength vibrational modes. We argue that this is a quantum phase transition, which can be experimentally realized and probed. Indeed, by means of a mapping to the Ising model in a transverse field, we estimate the quantum critical point in terms of the system parameters, and find a finite, measurable deviation from the critical point predicted by the classical theory. A measurement procedure is suggested which can probe the effects of quantum fluctuations at criticality. These results can be extended to describe the transverse instability of ultracold polar molecules in a one dimensional optical lattice.

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