Dresden 2011 – scientific programme
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A: Fachverband Atomphysik
A 10: Ultra-cold atoms, ions and BEC II (with Q)
A 10.7: Talk
Tuesday, March 15, 2011, 12:00–12:15, BAR 106
Injection locking of a trapped-ion phonon laser - the detection of ultraweak forces — •Sebastian Knünz1, Maximilian Herrmann1, Valentin Batteiger1, Guido Saathoff1, Kerry Vahala2, Theodor W. Hänsch1, and Thomas Udem1 — 1MPQ, Garching, Germany — 2Caltec, Pasadena, USA
A single trapped ion, addressed by both a red-detuned cooling laser and a blue-detuned pump laser can exhibit stable oscillatory motion with a well defined threshold. We have shown that this oscillation is the result of stimulated emission of center-of-mass phonons, providing saturable amplification of the motion. We show that the dynamics of this "phonon laser" are surprisingly sensitive to external fields; we demonstrate phase synchronization ("injection locking") to an external signal by applying forces as weak as 5 yN (yocto=10−24). This enormous sensitivity might allow the detection of the nuclear spin of a single atom or molecule.