Direct measurement of squeezing in the motion of trapped ions

We present a simple method that can be used to directly measure the squeezing of the quantum motional states of a trapped ion. Through the use of the interaction between the trapped ion and classical lasers, one can design a required coupling between the internal electronic and external vibrational degrees of freedom of the ion and can transfer information of the expectation value of a vibrational operator to the atomic internal populations. Thus measurement of squeezing on the quantum motional state can directly be realized. By adjusting the phases of the interacting lasers, one can measure the squeezing of both position and momentum quadratures. © 2005 Chinese Physical Society and IOP Publishing Ltd.