1-bit memory using one electron: Parametric oscillations in a Penning trap

Abstract

The parametric oscillation of a single trapped electron is studied and used to measure enhanced spontaneous emission. Hysteresis in this motion provides a 1-bit memory to store information about excitations made with the electron ``in the dark.'' The time dependence and stability criteria for the parametric excitation are examined. The cyclotron motions for one and two electrons are also studied.