We present a study of the coherence properties of a variety of motional states of a single ion confined in a Penning ion trap. We demonstrate that the motion of the ion has a coherence time of the order of 1 s, using Ramsey interferometry. We introduce a technique for preparing the ion in an incoherent superposition of highly-excited motional states using a simple modification of optical sideband cooling. Coherent manipulation of these states allows measurements of optical and motional coherence to be carried out. We show that these highly-excited motional state superpositions have long coherence times despite the incoherent preparation of the states. Such states can be useful for sensitive motional dephasing measurements.

我们目前对封闭在Penning离子阱中的单个离子的各种运动状态的相干特性的研究。我们证明，使用Ramsey干涉测量法，离子的运动具有1 s数量级的相干时间。我们介绍了一种使用光学边带冷却的简单修改以高激发运动状态的非相干叠加方式制备离子的技术。这些状态的相干操纵允许进行光学和运动相干性的测量。我们表明，尽管状态的准备不连贯，但这些高度兴奋的运动状态叠加却具有较长的相干时间。这样的状态对于敏感的运动移相测量可能是有用的。