Phonon-number-resolving detection of multiple local phonon modes in trapped ions

Abstract

We propose and demonstrate phonon-number-resolving detection of the multiple local phonon modes in a trapped-ion chain. To mitigate the effect of phonon hopping during the detection process, the probability amplitude of each local phonon mode is mapped to the auxiliary long-lived motional ground states. Sequential state-dependent fluorescence detection is then performed. In the experiment, we have successfully observed the time evolution of two local phonon modes in two ions, including the phonon-number correlation between the two modes.