Multipath interference from large trapped ion chains

0510894 - ÚPT 2020 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Obšil, T. - Lešundák, Adam - Pham, Minh Tuan - Araneda, G. - Čížek, Martin - Číp, Ondřej - Filip, R. - Slodička, L.
Multipath interference from large trapped ion chains.
New Journal of Physics. Roč. 21, SEP (2019), č. článku 093039. ISSN 1367-2630. E-ISSN 1367-2630
R&D Projects: GA ČR GB14-36681G
Institutional support: RVO:68081731
Keywords : optical coherence * trapped ions * coherent scattering * collective atomic effects
OECD category: Optics (including laser optics and quantum optics)
Impact factor: 3.539, year: 2019
Method of publishing: Open access
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1367-2630/ab4081

The demonstration of optical multipath interference from a large number of quantum emitters is essential for the realization of many paradigmatic experiments in quantum optics. However, such interference remains still unexplored as it crucially depends on the sub-wavelength positioning accuracy and stability of all emitters. We present the observation of controlled interference of light scattered from strings of up to 53 trapped ions. The light scattered from ions localized in a harmonic trapping potential is collected along the ion crystal symmetry axis, which guarantees the spatial indistinguishability and allows for an efficient scaling of the contributing ion number. We achieve the preservation of the coherence of scattered light observable for all the measured string sizes and nearly-optimal enhancement of phase sensitivity. The presented results will enable realization and control of directional photon emission, direct detection of enhanced quadrature squeezing of atomic resonance fluorescence, or optical generation of genuine multi-partite entanglement of atoms.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0301259