Nonlinear vibronic dynamics of three laser-driven ions in a linear trap

The nonlinear interaction of three ions in a linear trap with laser light is studied by taking into account the three vibrational modes within a rotating-wave approximation. It is demonstrated that, for localization conditions far from the Lamb-Dicke limit, all three modes have a significant impact on the dynamics of the system. Preparations of vibrational Fock states can be used to realize two different regimes with an exactly solvable three-atom dynamics. The first one corresponds to a nonlinear version of the Tavis-Cummings coupling, whereas the Tavis-Cummings type interactions are suppressed in the second one