publications

2026

1. Exact simulation of classical heat engine cycles using single-ion phonon laser

   Q. Yuan, J.-Q. Zhang, Y.-Q. Wei, S.-Q. Dai, P.-D. Li, J. Li, T.-H. Cui, F. Zhou, L. Chen, J. Lin, and M. Feng

   Fundamental Research, 2026

   Abs DOI

   Heat engines are essential devices in modern industry, converting heat energy into useful mechanical work via their working substances. Here we experimentally simulate the conventional heat engine by employing the vibrational mode of a single trapped ion as the working substance. In contrast to simply employing the ion in thermal motion, we consider coherently stimulating the ion’s vibrational motion as the phonon laser, which helps acquire clearer results by effectively suppressing the thermal fluctuation. As such, we demonstrate in an exact and high signal-to-noise way the standard steps of both the Otto and Carnot cycles in a single ion, and compare their maximum efficiencies by monitoring the amplitude and frequency of the vibration. Our work witnesses an interesting single-atom thermal engine using coherently controlled phonons. It would be the smallest platform for simulating or demonstrating classical thermodynamic laws and phenomena at a single ion scale via optical manipulation techniques for phonon lasers.

2. Nat. Commun.

   Experimental witness of quantum jump induced high-order Liouvillian exceptional points

   Zhuo-Zhu Wu, Pei-Dong Li, Tai-Hao Cui, Jia-Wei Wang, Yuan-Zhang Dong, Shuang-Qing Dai, Ji Li, Ya-Qi Wei, Quan Yuan, Xiao-Ming Cai, Liang Chen, Jian-Qi Zhang, Hui Jing, and Mang Feng

   Nature Communications, 2026

   DOI

2025

1. Vibrational resonance via a single-ion phonon laser

   Quan Yuan, Shuang-Qing Dai, Tai-Hao Cui, Pei-Dong Li, Yuan-Zhang Dong, Ji Li, Fei Zhou, Jian-Qi Zhang, Liang Chen, and Mang Feng

   Frontiers of Physics, 2025

   Abs DOI

   Vibrational resonances are ubiquitous in various nonlinear systems and play crucial roles in detecting weak low-frequency signals and developing highly sensitive sensors. Here we demonstrate vibrational resonance, for the first time, utilizing a single-ion phonon laser system exhibiting Van der Pol-type nonlinearity. To enhance the response of the phonon laser system to weak signals, we experimentally realize continuously tunable symmetry of the bistability in the phonon laser system via optical modulation, and achieve the maximum vibrational resonance amplification of 23 dB. In particular, our single-ion phonon laser system relaxes the frequency separation condition and exhibits the potential of multi-frequency signal amplification using the vibrational resonance. Our study employs the phonon laser to study and optimize the vibrational resonance with simple and well-controllable optical technology, which holds potential applications in developing precision metrology and single-ion sensors with on-chip ion traps.

2. Phys. Rev. A

   Experimental demonstration of single-spin Stirling engine cycles with enhanced efficiency

   P.-D. Li, G.-Y. Ding, J.-Q. Zhang, Q. Yuan, S.-Q. Dai, T.-H. Cui, F. Zhou, L. Chen, Q. Zhong, H. Jing, Ş. K. Özdemir, and M. Feng

   Phys. Rev. A, Jan 2025

   DOI
3. 量子区域内单离子声子激光态的研究

   董元章, 何思文, 邓志姣, 李沛东, 陈亮, and 冯芒

   物理学报, 2025

   DOI
4. Single-ion phonon laser in quantum region

   Yuanzhang DONG, Siwen HE, Zhijiao DENG, Peidong LI, Liang CHEN, and Mang FENG

   Acta Physica Sinica, 2025

   DOI

2024

1. Stochastic resonance via single-ion phonon laser

   Q. Yuan, S.-Q. Dai, P.-D. Li, Y.-Q. Wei, J. Li, F. Zhou, J.-Q. Zhang, L. Chen, and M. Feng

   Applied Physics Letters, Sep 2024

   Abs DOI

   Stochastic resonance, a phenomenon that amplifies and detects weak signals, has been observed in various physical systems. However, due to the challenge of constructing controllable nonlinear damping, stochastic resonance has never been experimentally performed using van der Pol nonlinearity. Here, we report the experimental observation of stochastic resonance in a single trapped-ion phonon laser system exhibiting van der Pol nonlinearity. This experiment demonstrates the ability of the phonon laser to achieve stochastic resonance, amplifying weak signals via inputting additional noise at a single-atom level. Our experiment illustrates the single-ion phonon laser providing a platform to explore the physical properties of the nonlinear van der Pol oscillator. This work opens up a way for designing single-atomic devices for weak signal processing in real environments.

2. Building and characterizing a stylus ion-trap system

   Tai-Hao Cui, Ya-Qi Wei, Ji Li, Quan Yuan, Shuang-Qing Dai, Pei-Dong Li, Fei Zhou, Jian-Qi Zhang, Zhu-Jun Zheng, Liang Chen, and Mang Feng

   Chinese Physics B, Apr 2024

   Abs DOI

   Cold trapped ions can be excellent sensors for ultra-precision detection of physical quantities, which strongly depends on the measurement situation at hand. The stylus ion trap, formed by two concentric cylinders over a ground plane, holds the promise of relatively simple structure and larger solid angle for optical access and fluorescence collection in comparison with the conventional ion traps. Here we report our fabrication and characterization of the first stylus ion trap constructed in China, aiming for studying quantum optics and sensing weak electric fields in the future. We have observed the stable confinement of the ion in the trapping potential for more than two hours and measured the heating rate of the trap to be dε/dt = 7.10 ± 0.13 meV/s by the Doppler recooling method. Our work starts a way to building practical quantum sensors with high efficiency of optical collection and with ultimate goal for contributing to future quantum information technology.

2023

1. Stochastic Resonance in a Single-Ion Nonlinear Mechanical Oscillator

   Tai-Hao Cui, Ji Li, Quan Yuan, Ya-Qi Wei, Shuang-Qing Dai, Pei-Dong Li, Fei Zhou, Jian-Qi Zhang, Liang Chen, and Mang Feng

   Chinese Physics Letters, Aug 2023

   Abs DOI

   Stochastic resonance is a counterintuitive phenomenon amplifying the weak periodic signal by application of external noise. We demonstrate the enhancement of a weak periodic signal by stochastic resonance in a trapped-ion oscillator when the oscillator is excited to the nonlinear regime and subject to an appropriate noise. Under the full control of the radio-frequency drive voltage, this amplification originates from the nonlinearity due to asymmetry of the trapping potential, which can be described by a forced Duffing oscillator model. Our scheme and results provide an interesting possibility to make use of controllable nonlinearity in the trapped ion, and pave the way toward a practical atomic sensor for sensitively detecting weak periodic signals from real noisy environment.