Linear-zigzag transition in a quantum potential

CECILIA CORMICK; GIOVANNA MORIGI

Obergurgl

Conferencia; International Conference on Quantum Optics; 2012

We study the dynamics of a chain of ultracold ions in a pumped standing-wave optical cavity, focusing on the case when the chain is close to the linear-zigzag structural transition. We analyze how to obtain information about the ion chain through the light at the cavity output, and show that the back-action of the cavity field on the ions can qualitatively modify the character of the transition.