Related papers: Conceptually new mechanism for trapping neutral, p…
Studying a single atomic ion confined in a time-dependent periodic anharmonic potential, we find large amplitude trajectories stable for millions of oscillation periods in the presence of stochastic laser cooling. The competition between…
Planar rotors can be realized by confining molecular ions or charged nanoparticles together with atomic ions in a Paul trap. We study the case of molecular ions or charged nanoparticles that have an electric dipole moment which couples to…
The viscous drag on a colloidal particle pulled through solution by an optical trap is large enough that on experimentally relavant time scales the mechanical force exerted by the trap is equal and op- posite the viscous drag force. The…
We demonstrate the operation of a dual-frequency Paul trap and characterize its performance by storing either electrons or calcium ions while applying two quadrupole fields simultaneously which oscillate at $\Omega_\textrm{fast} = 2\pi…
A particle driven by active self-propulsion can be subject to inhomogeneous potential fields, steering its orientation and leading to confinement and eventual trapping. Analytical treatment of capture and/or release dynamics for general…
We consider the motion of a harmonically trapped overdamped particle, which is submitted to a self-phoretic force, that is proportional to the gradient of a diffusive field for which the particle itself is the source. In agreement with…
Precision in optical micromanipulation is critical for non-invasive, non-contact control of objects with light and for using light to measure forces and torques. We demonstrate the control of birefringent objects over three translational…
We describe an atom trapping mechanism based upon differential optical pumping between metastable hyperfine states by partially-displaced laser beams in the absence of a magnetic field. With realistic laser powers, trap spring constants…
A microstructured array of over 1200 electrodes on a substrate has been configured to generate an array of local minima of electric field strength with a periodicity of $120 \mu$m about $25 \mu$m above the substrate. By applying…
Trapped Rydberg ions are a promising new system for quantum information processing. They have the potential to join the precise quantum operations of trapped ions and the strong, long-range interactions between Rydberg atoms. Technically,…
Observation time is the key parameter for improving the precision of measurements of gravitational quantum states of particles levitating above a reflecting surface. We propose a new method of long confinement in such states of atoms,…
We report on experiments with cold thermal $^7$Li atoms confined in combined magnetic and electric potentials. A novel type of three-dimensional trap was formed by modulating a magnetic guide using electrostatic fields. We observed atoms…
Trapping of atoms and molecules in electrostatic, magnetic and optical traps has enabled studying atomic and molecular interactions on a timescale of many seconds, allowing observations of ultra-cold collisions and reactions. Here we report…
We are developing a new hybrid atom-ion trap to study the interaction of ultracold rubidium atoms with mass-selected OH- molecules. The ions are trapped inside an octupole rf-trap made of thin wires instead of the commonly used rods. This…
Mechanical oscillators based on levitated particles are promising candidates for sensitive detectors and platforms for testing fundamental physics. The targeted quality factors for such oscillators correspond to extremely low damping rates…
The scope of this book is on providing insight into the recently emerged field of optical trapping of ions. Since the ground-breaking introduction of light fields as tools for exerting trapping forces on matter in 1970 by Ashkin, optical…
Topological protection ensures stability of information and particle transport against perturbations. We explore experimentally and computationally the topologically protected transport of magnetic colloids above spatially inhomogeneous…
We demonstrate that charged particles in a sufficiently intense standing wave are compressed toward, and oscillate synchronously at, the maxima of the electric field. This unusual trapping behaviour, which we call 'anomalous radiative…
Optical trapping has proven to be a valuable experimental technique for precisely controlling small dielectric objects. However, due to their very nature, conventional optical traps are diffraction limited and require high intensities to…
We theoretically investigate trapping conditions for ultracold polar molecules in optical lattices, when external magnetic and electric fields are simultaneously applied. Our results are based on an accurate electronic-structure calculation…