Quantum theory of electrically levitated nanoparticle-ion systems: Motional dynamics and sympathetic cooling

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2511.21495v2
• Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2025 06:40:12 GMT
• Title: Quantum theory of electrically levitated nanoparticle-ion systems: Motional dynamics and sympathetic cooling
• Authors: Saurabh Gupta, Dmitry S. Bykov, Tracy E. Northup, Carlos Gonzalez-Ballestero,
• Abstract summary: We develop the theory describing the quantum coupled dynamics of the center-of-mass motion of a nanoparticles and an ensemble of ions co-trapped in a dual-frequency linear Paul trap.<n>Our work establishes the theoretical toolbox needed to explore the ion-assisted preparation of non-Gaussian motional states of levitated nanoparticles.
• Score: 5.526782512693628
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Abstract: We develop the theory describing the quantum coupled dynamics of the center-of-mass motion of a nanoparticle and an ensemble of ions co-trapped in a dual-frequency linear Paul trap. We first derive analytical expressions for the motional frequencies and classical trajectories of both nanoparticle and ions. We then derive a quantum master equation for the ion-nanoparticle system and quantify the sympathetic cooling of the nanoparticle motion enabled by its Coulomb coupling to a continuously Doppler-cooled ion. We predict that motional cooling down to sub-kelvin temperatures is achievable in state-of-the-art experiments even in the absence of motional feedback and in the presence of micromotion. We then extend our analysis to an ensemble of $N$ ions, predicting a linear increase of the cooling rate as a function of $N$ and motional cooling of the nanoparticle down to tenths of millikelvin in current experimental platforms. Our work establishes the theoretical toolbox needed to explore the ion-assisted preparation of non-Gaussian motional states of levitated nanoparticles.

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