Using an ion trap with two temperature reservoirs to explore nonequilibrium physics

Abstract

Using a combination of molecular dynamics simulations and fundamental statistical mechanics, we analyze the position and velocity distribution of a trapped ion immersed in two ideal gases at differing temperatures. Such a system has been realized in the recently developed MOTion trap architecture. This system has the potential to serve as platform for studying nonequilibrium statistical mechanics in a controlled environment. As examples, we demonstrate a non-Maxwell Boltzmann velocity ionic distribution in the trap, the breakdown of the fluctuation-dissipation theorem, and position-velocity sorting, wherein high-velocity ionic states are over represented at points of high potential energy. We propose experiments to test these predictions.