Resolved-Sideband Raman Cooling of a Bound Atom to the 3D Zero-Point Energy

Abstract

We report laser cooling of a single $^{9}\mathrm{Be}^{+}$ ion held in a rf (Paul) ion trap to where it occupies the quantum-mechanical ground state of motion. With the use of resolved-sideband stimulated Raman cooling, the zero point of motion is achieved 98% of the time in 1D and 92% of the time in 3D. Cooling to the zero-point energy appears to be a crucial prerequisite for future experiments such as the realization of simple quantum logic gates applicable to quantum computation.