Quantum stochastic heating of a trapped ion through resonance fluorescence

The resonant heating of a harmonically trapped ion by a standing-wave light field is described as a quantum stochastic process combining a coherent Schrödinger evolution with Bohr-Einstein quantum jumps. The dependence of the center-of-mass motion on Lamb-Dicke parameter is studied. For Lamb-Dicke parameters greater than unity we demonstrate significant departures from the diffusion process that holds in the limit of small momentum "kicks" a strong inhibition of the heating of the ion (fluorescence) occurs. Heating rates are calculated as a Monte-Carlo average from both the full quantum stochastic process and its semi-quantum approximation.