Topological defect dynamics in ion Coulomb crystals
Dr. Heather Partner (Institute for Experimental Quantum Metrology, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt)

Ion Coulomb crystals are have recently become recognized as a versatile test platform for non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, for example to study phase transitions, thermalization, friction, and the formation of structural defects. When controlled sufficiently well, such crystals can be used as a high-stability atomic frequency standard. We have built an experimental system to create such crystals for metrology, and we have used the same system to create topological defects in the laboratory. Such defects have been proposed for storage of quantum information, and for studies of the nonlinear physics of solitons and phase transitions. I will present experiments in which we trap up to 50 172Yb+ ions and drive nonadiabatic quenches across the phase transition from linear to zigzag, and discuss the creation, properties, and behavior of different types of topological defects that arise during this transition. I will also describe ways to control and manipulate these kink solitons by varying trap parameters, adding mass impurities and using electric fields, and present possible future directions for this system.