Hannover 2003 – scientific programme

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Q: Quantenoptik

Q 19: Fallen und Kühlung 2

Q 19.4: Talk

Tuesday, March 25, 2003, 14:45–15:00, F303

Continuous observation of a single atom in a far-detuned dipole trap in cavity-QED — •I. Schuster, P. Maunz, T. Puppe, P.W.H. Pinkse, and G. Rempe — Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, Hans-Kopfermann-Str. 1, 85748 Garching

In the strong-coupling regime, a single atom placed in a high-finesse cavity can substantially alter the transmission of the resonator. This effect allows for continuous observation of the atom inside the cavity. The dipole force of the near-resonant probe field has a significant influence on the motion of a cold atom and can be used to catch and trap a single atom in the cavity [1]. However, the storage time is limited due to spontaneous scattering of photons.

We now combine the near-resonant light field used to observe the atom with a far-detuned light mode of the cavity to trap the atom [2]. This trapping scheme strongly extends the storage time of a single atom, permitting us to continuously observe the oscillation of an individual atom in both axial and radial directions.

[1] P.W.H. Pinkse, T. Fischer, P. Maunz, and G. Rempe, Nature, 404, 365 (2000). C.J. Hood, T.W. Lynn, A.C. Doherty, A.S. Parkins, and H.J. Kimble, Science, 287, 1147 (2000).

[2] J. Ye, D.W. Vernooy, and H.J. Kimble Phys. Rev. Lett., 83, 4987 (1999).