Simulation of Quantum Magnetism in Mixed Spin Systems with Impurity Doped Ion Crystal

Understand

We propose the realization of linear crystals of cold ions which contain different atomic species for investigating quantum phase transitions and frustration effects in spin system beyond the commonly discussed case of $s=1/2$.

• Mutual spin-spin interactions between ions can be tailored via the Zeeman effect by applying oscillating magnetic fields with strong gradients.
• Further, collective vibrational modes in the mixed ion crystal can be used to enhance and to vary the strength of spin-spin interactions and even to switch those forces from a ferro- to an antiferromagnetic character.
• We consider the behavior of the effective spin-spin couplings in an ion crystal of spin-1/2 ions doped with high magnetic moment ions with spin S=3.