Ion trap simulations of quantum fields in an expanding universe.
We propose an experiment in which the phonon excitation of ion(s) in a trap, with a trap frequency exponentially modulated at rate kappa, exhibits a thermal spectrum with an "Unruh" temperature given by k(B)T=Planck kappa. We discuss the similarities of this experiment to the response of detectors in a de Sitter universe and the usual Unruh effect for uniformly accelerated detectors. We demonstrate a new Unruh effect for detectors that respond to antinormally ordered moments using the ion's first blue sideband transition.
Alsing
Paul M
PM
Department of Physics and Astronomy, 800 Yale Boulevard NE, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
Dowling
Jonathan P
JP
Milburn
G J
GJ