Quantum-jump effects in the motion of a Raman-driven trapped ion

Rarely occurring single-photon electronic transitions in the Raman-driven quantized motion of a trapped ion are considered. Using a quantum trajectory approach it is demonstrated that these transitions, which are usually ignored, may cause significant quantum decoherence effects. In addition, we find an asymmetric evolution in the Wigner function due to induced transitions of a nonsymmetric type.