Greifswald 2024 – scientific programme

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GP: Fachverband Geschichte der Physik

GP 4: Exploring the experimental approach

GP 4.2: Talk

Tuesday, February 27, 2024, 17:30–18:00, ELP 3: HS 2.33

Trapping single particles - excluding the enviroment in experimental quantum optics, 1979 — •Eckhard Wallis — Deutsches Museum, Munich

The trapping of single ions can be seen as one of the most ambitious attempts of excluding “the environment” from the study of atomic structure. The first observation of single trapped ions was achieved in 1979 by the group of Peter Toschek (1933-2020) in Heidelberg, in close collaboration with the later Nobel laureate Hans Dehmelt (1922-2017) at University of Washington, Seattle. Techniques from particle trapping and laser cooling allowed them to control not only the number of atoms inside their trap but also the motion of the ion. This talk will study the motives behind the pursuit of single trapped ions: A “fundamental” line of argumentation linked the experiments to Ernst Mach’s opposition to atomism. However, unperturbed ions also promised useful applications in frequency metrology. The Deutsches Museum will present several artefacts related to this story in the new exhibition “Light and matter”.

Keywords: Quantum optics; Experimental physics; Ion traps; Laser physics; Frequency standards