title: Aharonov-Bohm effect in the tunnelling of a quantum rotor in a linear Paul trap.
abstract: Quantum tunnelling is a common fundamental quantum mechanical phenomenon that originates from the wave-like characteristics of quantum particles. Although the quantum tunnelling effect was first observed 85 years ago, some questions regarding the dynamics of quantum tunnelling remain unresolved. Here we realize a quantum tunnelling system using two-dimensional ionic structures in a linear Paul trap. We demonstrate that the charged particles in this quantum tunnelling system are coupled to the vector potential of a magnetic field throughout the entire process, even during quantum tunnelling, as indicated by the manifestation of the Aharonov-Bohm effect in this system. The tunnelling rate of the structures periodically depends on the strength of the magnetic field, whose period is the same as the magnetic flux quantum φ0 through the rotor [(0.99 ± 0.07) × φ0].
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, 1-3 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-8531, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Noguchi
authors.affiliation: 1] Research Center of Integrative Molecular Systems (CIMoS), Institute for Molecular Science, 38 Nishigo-Naka, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan [2] Institute for Quantum Studies, Chapman University, 1 University Dr, Orange, California 92866, USA.
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shikano
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, 1-3 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-8531, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Toyoda
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, 1-3 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-8531, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Urabe