Entangled states of trapped ions allow measuring the magnetic field gradient produced by a single atomic spin

QUANTUM, Institut für Physik, Universität Mainz - D-55128 Mainz, Germany, EU

fsk@uni-mainz.de

Received: 25 May 2012
Accepted: 14 August 2012

Abstract

We propose detecting the magnetic field gradient produced by the magnetic dipole moment of a single atom by using ions in an entangled state trapped a few μm from the dipole. This requires measuring magnetic field gradients of order 10⁻¹³ tesla/μm. We discuss applications in determining magnetic moments of a wide variety of ion species, for investigating the magnetic substructure of ions with level structures that are not suitable for laser cooling and detection, and for studying exotic or rare ions, and molecular ions. The scheme may also be used for measuring spin imbalances of neutral atoms or atomic ensembles trapped by optical dipole forces. As the proposed method relies on techniques that are well established in ion trap quantum information processing, it is within reach of current technology.