Sensing interactions in atomic quantum systems

Hybrid ion-atom systems combine the well-controllable platforms of trapped ions and ultracold quantum gases and link them together by the intermediate-range ion-atom interaction. These quantum systems offer opportunities for buffer gas cooling, quantum simulation of many-body systems, as well as state-to-state quantum chemistry [1]. To fully benefit from the combination, it is essential to understand, characterize, and control the interactions between the atoms and ions. Therefore, at TU/e, a new experimental setup is being built combining a trapped ion – Yb+ - with dipolar atoms - Dy. The progress on the design will be illustrated, and an overview of what we plan to do is presented.