Trapped-ion spin-motion coupling with microwaves and a near-motional oscillating magnetic field gradient

Abstract: We present a new method of spin-motion coupling for trapped ions using microwaves and a magnetic field gradient oscillating close to the ions' motional frequency. We demonstrate and characterize this coupling experimentally using a single ion in a surface-electrode trap that incorporates current-carrying electrodes to generate the microwave field and the oscillating magnetic field gradient. Using this method, we perform resolved-sideband cooling of a single motional mode to its ground state.