Simulating open quantum systems with trapped ions

This paper focuses on the possibility of simulating the open system dynamics of a paradigmatic model, namely the damped harmonic oscillator, with single trapped ions. The key idea consists in using a controllable physical system, i.e. a single trapped ion interacting with an engineered reservoir, to simulate the dynamics of other open systems usually difficult to study. The exact dynamics of the damped harmonic oscillator under very general conditions is firstly derived. Some peculiar characteristic of the system's dynamics are then presented. Finally a way to implement with trapped ion the specific quantum simulator of interest is discussed.