$\bar{\textrm{H}}^{+}$ Sympathetic Cooling Simulations with a Variable Time Step

Abstract

In this paper we present a new variable time step criterion for the velocity-Verlet algorithm allowing to correctly simulate the dynamics of charged particles exchanging energy via Coulomb collisions while minimising simulation time. We present physical arguments supporting the use of the criterion along with numerical results proving its validity. We numerically show that $\bar{\textrm{H}}^{+}$ ions with 18 meV initial energy can be captured and sympathetically cooled by a Coulomb crystal of $\textrm{Be}^{+}$ and $\textrm{HD}^{+}$ in less than 10 ms, an important result for the GBAR project.