Observation of power-Law scaling for phase transitions in linear trapped ion crystals
We report an experimental confirmation of the power-law relationship between the critical anisotropy parameter and ion number for the linear-to-zigzag phase transition in an ionic crystal. Our experiment uses laser cooled calcium ions confined in a linear radio-frequency trap. Measurements for up to ten ions are in good agreement with theoretical and numeric predictions. Implications on an upper limit to the size of data registers in ion trap quantum computers are discussed.
Enzer
DG
Physics Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA.
Schauer
MM
Gomez
JJ
Gulley
MS
Holzscheiter
MH
Kwiat
PG
Lamoreaux
SK
Peterson
CG
Sandberg
VD
Tupa
D
White
AG
Hughes
RJ
James
DF