Ion Coulomb crystals: an exotic form of condensed matter

Published

August 24, 2025

Author(s)

Giovanna Morigi, John Bollinger, Michael Drewsen, Daniel Podolsky, Efrat Shimshoni

Abstract

Wigner crystals formed by laser-cooled ions in traps are unconventional condensed matter systems, characterized by interparticle distances of several micrometers and energy scales on the order of meV. Their crystalline structure emerges from the interplay between Coulomb repulsion and the external potential, which can be readily tuned. Moreover, individual ions can be precisely manipulated with lasers and imaged via resonance fluorescence. These unique and unusual properties make ion crystals a powerful platform for studying phases of matter and their dynamics in the strongly correlated quantum regime. This review examines the theoretical framework and experimental characterization of ion Coulomb crystals from a condensed-matter perspective. We highlight their dynamical and thermodynamic properties in one, two, and three dimensions, along with recent investigations into their out-of-equilibrium behavior. We provide outlooks on future directions for exploring novel condensed matter phenomena with trapped ion crystals, as well as their many scientific and technical applications, which have driven advances in controlling and measuring ion crystals in the lab.

Citation

Reviews of Modern Physics

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

condensed matter, ion Coulomb crystals, laser cooling, long-range interactions, one-component plasma, out-of-equilibrium dynamics, Penning trap, rf trap, trapped ion crystals, Wigner crystallization

Citation

Morigi, G. , Bollinger, J. , Drewsen, M. , Podolsky, D. and Shimshoni, E. (2025), Ion Coulomb crystals: an exotic form of condensed matter, Reviews of Modern Physics (Accessed November 28, 2025)