Dynamics of topological defects in ion Coulomb crystals

H. L. Partner; R. Nigmatullin; T. Burgermeister; K. Pyka; J. Keller; A. Retzker; M. B. Plenio; T. E. Mehlstäubler

doi:10.1088/1367-2630/15/10/103013

Dynamics of topological defects in ion Coulomb crystals

H. L. Partner, R. Nigmatullin, T. Burgermeister, K. Pyka, J. Keller, A. Retzker, M. B. Plenio, T. E. Mehlstäubler^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Racah Institute of Physics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

We study experimentally and theoretically the properties of structural defects (kink solitons) in two-dimensional ion Coulomb crystals. We show how different types of kink solitons with different physical properties can be realized, and transformed from one type into another by varying the aspect ratio of the trap confinement. Further, we discuss how impurities in ion Coulomb crystals, such as mass defects, can modify the dynamics of kink creation and their stability. For both pure and impure crystals, the experimentally observed kink dynamics are analysed in detail and explained theoretically by numerical simulations and calculations of the Peierls-Nabarro potential. Finally, we demonstrate that static electric fields provide a handle to vary the influence of mass defects on kinks in a controlled way and allow for deterministic manipulation and creation of kinks.

Original language	English
Article number	103013
Journal	New Journal of Physics
Volume	15
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/15/10/103013
State	Published - Oct 2013

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AU - Partner, H. L.

AU - Nigmatullin, R.

AU - Burgermeister, T.

AU - Pyka, K.

AU - Keller, J.

AU - Retzker, A.

AU - Plenio, M. B.

AU - Mehlstäubler, T. E.

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AB - We study experimentally and theoretically the properties of structural defects (kink solitons) in two-dimensional ion Coulomb crystals. We show how different types of kink solitons with different physical properties can be realized, and transformed from one type into another by varying the aspect ratio of the trap confinement. Further, we discuss how impurities in ion Coulomb crystals, such as mass defects, can modify the dynamics of kink creation and their stability. For both pure and impure crystals, the experimentally observed kink dynamics are analysed in detail and explained theoretically by numerical simulations and calculations of the Peierls-Nabarro potential. Finally, we demonstrate that static electric fields provide a handle to vary the influence of mass defects on kinks in a controlled way and allow for deterministic manipulation and creation of kinks.

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Dynamics of topological defects in ion Coulomb crystals

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