Simulating the spin-boson model with an engineerable reservoir

The spin-boson model serves as a valuable tool for studying the interplay between quantum systems and their environments. We employ the spin-phonon coupling in a linear chain of trapped ions to simulate the spin-boson model. We engineer the spectral density of the reservoir by adjusting the ion number, the target ion, the laser detuning to the phonon sidebands, and the number of frequency components in the laser, and we observe the evolution of encoded information under various conditions. Our work demonstrates the ion trap as a powerful platform for simulating open quantum dynamics with complicated reservoir structures.