1-bit memory using one electron: Parametric oscillations in a Penning trap

Abstract

The parametric oscillation of a single trapped electron is studied and used to measure enhanced spontaneous emission. Hysteresis in this motion provides a 1-bit memory to store information about excitations made with the electron “in the dark.” The time dependence and stability criteria for the parametric excitation are examined. The cyclotron motions for one and two electrons are also studied.