Speaker
Description
Current state-of-the-art quantum simulators are limited by their short observation times. The OPEN-2QS platform leverages the advantages of Rydberg ions [1] with those of Penning trap configurations [2] to allow significantly longer observation times, up to 7 orders of magnitude longer than microscopic timescales [3]. The Rydberg interaction boosts the effective interaction strength between ions to about 1MHz, which is approximately 3 orders of magnitude larger than what is currently achievable in laser-driven gate operations [4]. This combination of features allows us to pursue fundamental research directions previously inaccessible, such as study of long-time evolution in quantum systems, characterization of collective dynamics beyond decoherence timescales, and non-equilibrium phenomena in open many-body quantum systems. In order to realize such a quantum simulator, we present the first stages of an ambitious R&D program in Mainz. This includes the design of a Penning trap constructed from a Halbach array of permanent magnets, suited to 2D-confinement of $^{40}\text{Ca}^+$ Rydberg ion crystals at cryogenic (5K) temperatures.
[1] A. Mokhberi et al, Adv. Atom. Mol. Opt. Phys. 69, 233–306 (2020)
[2] A. Polloreno et al, arXiv:2203.05196 (2022)
[3] C. Chen et al, Nature 616, 691 (2023)
[4] W. Martins et al, arXiv:2601.01626 (2026)
| Academic level | Postdoctoral researcher |
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