Dynamics of a trapped ion in a quantum gas: Effects of particle statistics

We study the quantum dynamics of an ion confined in a radio-frequency trap in interaction with either a Bose or spin-polarized Fermi gas. To this end, we derive quantum optical master equations in the limit of weak coupling and the Lamb-Dicke approximations. For the bosonic bath, we also include the so-called Lamb-shift correction to the ion trap due to the coupling to the quantum gas as well as the extended Frohlich interaction within the Bogolyubov approximation that have been not considered in previous studies. We calculate the ion kinetic energy for various atom-ion scattering lengths as well as gas temperatures by considering the intrinsic micromotion and we analyze the damping of the ion motion in the gas as a function of the gas temperature. We find that the ion's dynamics depends on the quantum statistics of the gas and that a fermionic bath enables to attain lower ionic energies.

Automated summary

The study investigates the quantum dynamics of an ion interacting with either a Bose or spin-polarized Fermi gas in a radio-frequency trap. The research considers quantum optical master equations under weak coupling and Lamb-Dicke approximations. Results show that ion dynamics are influenced by the quantum statistics of the gas, with lower ionic energies achievable with a fermionic gas.