Physics

Prof. Sadiqali Rangwala
RRI, Bangalore

Abstract: 

Cooling and trapping of atoms and ions has resulted in path breaking advances ranging from metrology to condensed matter physics and beyond. A significant and exciting leap towards new possibilities in ultracold physics is the co-trapping of ions and atoms in hybrid traps. This opens up several new classes of interactions for precision experiments. However, since the Paul trap acts on the charge to mass ratio of ions it is quite different and far more generic trap than that of the co-trapped atoms in a MOT. The question then arises, can the ions and atoms attain steady state and even equilibrium. The answer to such a question requires a clear understanding of the interactions between trapped ions and atoms and of the exchange of energy between the two co-trapped species. In this talk we present a clear experimental evidence and explanation of how ions and atoms exchange energy resulting in the cooling of trapped ions. Both experimental results and the underlying theoretical understanding of the cooling will be presented.  The paths forward with this system will be discussed.