Transition from Collective to Local Radial Motional Modes in a Tapered Paul Trap

With coupled detuned oscillators, either individual or collective oscillations are observable. The latter is used in quantum information processing in linear Paul traps. Here, we study the transition from collective radial modes at stronger axial confinements into individual radial oscillations at low axial confinements in a tapered Paul trap. The eigenmodes are experimentally studied in detail in the transition regime and compared with theoretical predictions. The features studied will enable investigation of modified heat transport phenomena and defect formation in trapped ions.