Ion Coulomb crystals: classical and quantum effects at structural transitions
Prof. Dr. Giovanna Morigi (Universität des Saarlandes)

Coulomb crystals of cold, trapped ions constitute a fascinating physical realization of the phenomena discussed by Wigner for electrons in metals, can be experimentally realized and probed, and have potential applications in quantum simulators and other quantum technologies. A string of trapped, cold ions exhibits a structural phase transition to a zigzag structure, which can be tuned by adjusting the trap potentials and particle number. This proves to be a quantum phase transition, which can be mapped onto that of the Ising model in a transverse field, and has a measurable deviation from the classical prediction.
We discuss perspectives from creating quantum mechanical superpositions of the crystal in different structures. In addition, we discuss how an ion string can simulate a reservoir, that supports creation of quantum correlations between two embedded defects.