Current experimental efforts to test the fundamental CPT symmetry with single (anti-)protons are progressing at a rapid pace but are hurt by the nonzero temperature of particles and the difficulty of spin state detection. We describe a laser-based and quantum logic inspired approach to single (anti-)proton cooling and state detection.
We present methods to manipulate and detect the motional state and the spin state of a single antiproton or proton which are currently under development within the BASE (Baryon Antibaryon Symmetry Experiment) collaboration. These methods include symp
athetic laser cooling of a single (anti-)proton using a co-trapped atomic ion as well as quantum logic spectroscopy with the two particles and could be implemented within the collaboration for state preparation and state readout in the antiproton $g$-factor measurement experiment at CERN. In our project, these techniques shall be applied using a single $^9text{Be}^+$ ion as the atomic ion in a Penning trap system at a magnetic field of 5 T. As an intermediate step, a controlled interaction of two beryllium ions in a double-well potential as well as sympathetic cooling of one ion by the other shall be demonstrated.
We discuss laser-based and quantum logic inspired cooling and detection methods amenable to single (anti-)protons. These would be applicable e.g. in a g-factor based test of CPT invariance as currently pursued within the BASE collaboration. Towards t
his end, we explore sympathetic cooling of single (anti-)protons with atomic ions as suggested by Heinzen and Wineland (1990).
We investigate the dynamics of an ion sympathetically cooled by another laser-cooled ion or small ion crystal. To this end, we develop simple models of the cooling dynamics in the limit of weak Coulomb interactions. Experimentally, we create a two-io
n crystal of Ca$^+$ and Al$^+$ by photo-ionization of neutral atoms produced by laser ablation. We characterize the velocity distribution of the laser-ablated atoms crossing the trap by time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. We observe neutral atom velocities much higher than the ones of thermally heated samples and find as a consequence long sympathethic cooling times before crystallization occurs. Our key result is a new technique for detecting the loading of an initially hot ion with energy in the eV range by monitoring the motional state of a Doppler-cooled ion already present in the trap. This technique not only detects the ion but also provides information about dynamics of the sympathetic cooling process.
Dehmelt and VanDycks famous 1987 measurement of the electron and positron g-factor is still the most precise g-factor comparison in the lepton sector, and a sensitive test of possible CPT violation. A complementary g-factor comparison between the pro
ton and the antiproton is highly desirable to test CPT symmetry in the baryon sector. Current experiments, based on Dehmelts continuous Stern-Gerlach effect and the double Penning-trap technique, are making rapid progress. They are, however, extremely difficult to carry out because ground state cooling using cryogenic techniques is virtually impossible for heavy baryons, and because the continous Stern-Gerlach effect scales as $mu$/m, where m is the mass of the particle and $mu$ its magnetic moment. Both difficulties will ultimately limit the accuracy. We discuss experimental prospects of realizing an alternative approach to a g-factor comparison with single (anti)protons, based on quantum logic techniques proposed by Heinzen and Wineland and by Wineland et al. The basic idea is to cool, control and measure single (anti-)protons through interaction with a well-controlled atomic ion.
We present first indications of sympathetic cooling between two neutral, optically trapped atomic species. Lithium and cesium atoms are simultaneously stored in an optical dipole trap formed by the focus of a CO$_2$ laser, and allowed to interact for
a given period of time. The temperature of the lithium gas is found to decrease when in thermal contact with cold cesium. The timescale of thermalization yields an estimate for the Li-Cs cross-section.