Quantum Simulation of the Klein Paradox with Trapped Ions

Journal Article · Thu Feb 10 23:00:00 EST 2011 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.106.060503· OSTI ID:21532287

Gerritsma, R; Lanyon, B P; Kirchmair, G; Zaehringer, F; Hempel, C; Blatt, R; Roos, C F ^[1]; Casanova, J ^[2]; Garcia-Ripoll, J J ^[3]; Solano, E ^[2]

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1. Institut fuer Experimentalphysik, Universitaet Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, A-6020 Innsbruck (Austria)
2. Departamento de Quimica Fisica, Universidad del Pais Vasco - Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Apdo. 644, 48080 Bilbao (Spain)
3. Instituto de Fisica Fundamental, CSIC, Serrano 113-bis, 28006 Madrid (Spain)

We report on quantum simulations of relativistic scattering dynamics using trapped ions. The simulated state of a scattering particle is encoded in both the electronic and vibrational state of an ion, representing the discrete and continuous components of relativistic wave functions. Multiple laser fields and an auxiliary ion simulate the dynamics generated by the Dirac equation in the presence of a scattering potential. Measurement and reconstruction of the particle wave packet enables a frame-by-frame visualization of the scattering processes. By precisely engineering a range of external potentials we are able to simulate text book relativistic scattering experiments and study Klein tunneling in an analogue quantum simulator. We describe extensions to solve problems that are beyond current classical computing capabilities.

• OSTI ID: 21532287
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 106; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
CHARGED PARTICLES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DIRAC EQUATION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENERGY RANGE
EQUATIONS
FIELD EQUATIONS
FUNCTIONS
IONS
LASER RADIATION
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
POTENTIALS
RADIATIONS
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
SCATTERING
SIMULATION
TRAPPING
WAVE EQUATIONS
WAVE FUNCTIONS
WAVE PACKETS