Trapped ions in optical lattices for probing oscillator chain models

Abstract

We show that a chain of trapped ions embedded in microtraps generated by an\noptical lattice can be used to study oscillator models related to dry friction\nand energy transport. Numerical calculations with realistic experimental\nparameters demonstrate that both static and dynamic properties of the ion chain\nchange significantly as the optical lattice power is varied. Finally, we lay\nout an experimental scheme to use the spin degree of freedom to probe the phase\nspace structure and quantum critical behavior of the ion chain.\n