Parametric Amplification in a Penning Trap for Enhanced Quantum Simulation and Sensing*

Trapped ion systems have been shown to be an ideal platform for quantum simulation and sensing in part due to the exquisite control of their collective motional modes (phonons). Parametric amplification to squeeze these collective modes offers a potential improvement in the experimental sensitivity to small displacements, and an enhanced phonon mediated spin-spin interaction for entanglement generation.

Here we benchmark our potential squeezing strength attainable in a large 2D crystal of over a hundred Be⁺ ions confined in a Penning trap. By applying an oscillating potential at near twice the axial center-of-mass mode frequency, we squeeze the motional state and can enhance the strength of our spin-dependent optical dipole force. We show squeezing below the motional ground state, which has the potential to substantially improve our sensitivity to small motional excitations for detection of weak electric fields. Additionally, our measured parametric coupling strength suggests we can improve our entanglement generation time and fidelity.