Phase-coherent detection of an optical dipole force by Doppler velocimetry

Published

May 10, 2011

Author(s)

Michael J. Biercuk, Hermann Uys, Joseph W. Britton, Aaron Vandevender, John J. Bollinger

Abstract

We report phase-coherent Doppler detection of optical dipole forces using large ion crystals in a Penning trap. The technique is based on laser Doppler velocimetry using a cycling transition in 9Be+ near 313 nm and the center-of-mass (COM) ion motional mode. The optical dipole force is tuned to excite the COM mode, and measurements of photon arrival times synchronized with the excitation potential show oscillations with a period commensurate with 2π/ω_z. Experimental results compare well with a quantitative model for a driven harmonic oscillator. This technique permits detailed characterization of motional modes in complex ion crystals and provides frequency discrimination below the Fourier-limited linewidth of nearly degenerate modes. The preservation of oscillation phase information relative to the driving force is a key enabling capability, providing access to a new parameter that is typically discarded in time-averaged measurements.

Citation

Optics Express

Volume

19

Issue

11

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

Doppler velocimetry, ion trap, optical dipole force, Penning trap

Citation

Biercuk, M. , Uys, H. , Britton, J. , Vandevender, A. and Bollinger, J. (2011), Phase-coherent detection of an optical dipole force by Doppler velocimetry, Optics Express, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=907870 (Accessed October 11, 2025)