Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:0905.4014 · Open Systems & Information Dynamics

Single-Photon Single-Ion Interaction in Free Space Configuration in Front of a Parabolic Mirror

Magdalena Stobińska, Robert Alicki

Published Dec 1, 2012• 5 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

The efficient interaction between single photons and single matter objects in free space is of key importance for quantum technologies. An experimental setup for testing this possibility involves single two-level ion trapped at the focus of a parabolic metallic mirror. We study the conditions for the setup, under which the assumption about the free-space mode structure of the radiation field in the vicinity of the atom is justified. In our analysis we apply vectorial properties of light by including the polarization degree of freedom. We look for possible changes in the spontaneous emission rate of the atom resulting from the presence of the parabolic boundary conditions.

DOI
10.1142/s1230161212500230

Related papers

Generation of a light mode optimized for efficient free-space photon-atom coupling

Andrea Golla, Bénoît Chalopin, Robert Maiwald +4 more

Today the interaction of light and matter on the single quantum level is a wide research field. Strong coupling between a single photon and a single atom has already been achieved with optical cavities. Here, we treat strong interaction in free space, i.e. strong interaction whilst maintaining the free space density of states of the electromagnetic field. We pursue the coupling of a properly designed single photon wave packet to a single ion aiming at an excitation probability close to unity. For this purpose a linear dipole transition of an ion localized in the focal point of a deep parabolic mirror is addressed by a collimated laser beam focused onto the ion from nearly the full solid angle. In order to reach the highest possible coupling strength, the incident vectorial light field must be matched to the radiation pattern of the corresponding atomic transition both in the spatial and in the temporal domain. Here the generation of such an incident light mode is presented.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)•May 1, 2011•0 citations

Optimizing free-space light-matter interaction by mode matching

Marianne Bader

This thesis describes an experiment to optimize the interaction of light and a single ion in free space. The key to efficient coupling consists in mode-matching the incident electromagnetic field to the radiative properties of the ion. For perfect coupling, the incident mode has to match the emission pattern of the ion. In free space, this requires illumination of the ion with an incoming dipole wave. In the present work, such a situation is realized experimentally. To this end, a radially polarized doughnut mode is focused with a deep parabolic mirror while the ion is localized in the focal point of the parabolic mirror by means of a trap of special geometry. This thesis reports first on the implementation of the two basic components of the experiment: the ion trapping in the focal point of the parabolic mirror and the generation of the required doughnut mode. Then, the coupling efficiency of the combined system is analyzed by means of saturation measurements. Characterization of our setup reveals aberrations of the parabolic mirror which prevent perfect coupling. However, the measured coupling efficiency of (7.2 ± 0.2)% is to date among the highest values reported for coupling experiments with a single atom in free space. A special aim of our group is the full excitation of an ion by a single photon. This requires, in addition to the above mentioned spatial mode matching, temporal shaping of the incident light. Perfect excitation can be achieved if the single-photon wavepacket shows an exponentially rising envelope with a time constant matching the lifetime of the excited state of the ion. The present work demonstrates the power of temporal mode matching using a model system: an empty optical cavity. Both, light inside a cavity and atomic excitation, decay exponentially. Thus, there is an analogy between atomic excitation and field energy inside a cavity. The task of exciting an ion translates to the task of coupling a classical light pulse into a cavity. This thesis confirms experimentally that almost the entire energy of a rising exponential pulse can be coupled into a cavity, provided the pulse time constant matches the cavity lifetime.

•Jan 1, 2016•0 citations

Spontaneous transition rates near the focus of a parabolic mirror with identification of the vectorial modes involved

R. Gutiérrez-Jáuregui, Rocío Jáuregui

Each natural mode of the electromagnetic field within a parabolic mirror exhibits spatial localization and polarization properties that can be exploited for the quantum control of its interaction with atomic systems. The region of localization is not restricted to the focus of the mirror leading to a selective response of atomic systems trapped on its vicinity. We report calculations of the spontaneous emission rates for an atom trapped inside the mirror accounting for all atomic polarizations and diverse trapping regions. It is shown that electric dipole transitions can be enhanced near the focus of a deep parabolic mirror with a clear identification of the few vectorial modes involved. Out of the focus the enhancement vanishes gradually, but the number of relevant modes remains small. Ultimately this represents a quantum electrodynamic system where internal and external degrees of freedom cooperate to maximize a selective exchange and detection of single excitations.

Scientific Reports•Oct 15, 2020•3 citations

Spontaneous transition rates near the focus of a parabolic mirror with identification of the vectorial modes involved

R. Gutiérrez-Jáuregui, Rocío Jáuregui

Each natural mode of the electromagnetic field within a parabolic mirror exhibits spatial localization and polarization properties that can be exploited for the quantum control of its interaction with atomic systems. The region of localization is not restricted to the focus of the mirror leading to a selective response of atomic systems trapped on its vicinity. We report calculations of the spontaneous emission rates for an atom trapped inside the mirror accounting for all atomic polarizations and diverse trapping regions. It is shown that electric dipole transitions can be enhanced near the focus of a deep parabolic mirror with a clear identification of the few vectorial modes involved. Out of the focus the enhancement vanishes gradually, but the number of relevant modes remains small. Ultimately this represents a quantum electrodynamic system where internal and external degrees of freedom cooperate to maximize a selective exchange and detection of single excitations.

arXiv:2009.09576•Sep 21, 2020•0 citations

Collecting more than half the fluorescence photons from a single ion

Robert Maiwald, Andrea Golla, Martin Fischer +5 more

We demonstrate the trapping of a single ion in the focus of a deep parabolic mirror that covers 81$%$ of the solid angle surrounding the ion. Accounting for the reflectivity of the mirror we infer a photon collection efficiency of 54.8$%$ for our setup. The underlying experimentally detected maximum fluorescence rate is $1.91\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}$ s${}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ from a single ${}^{174}$Yb${}^{+}$ ion, mainly limited by the quantum efficiency of our photon detector. Besides the high collection efficiency, the integration of an ion trap into a parabolic mirror is a key ingredient for efficient coupling of light to a single ion in free space.

Physical Review A•Oct 26, 2012•75 citations

Single ion trapped in the focal spot of a deep parabolic mirror

Andrea Golla, Robert Maiwald, Martin Fischer +4 more

We report on trapping of single Ytterbium ions in the focal spot of a deep parabolic mirror providing a setup for efficient free space photon atom coupling. Additionally issues regarding imaging, ion localization and fluorescence collection are discussed.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Jan 1, 2012•0 citations
The efficient interaction between single photons and single matter objects in free space is of key importance for quantum technologies. An experimental setup for testing this possibility involves single two-level ion trapped at the focus of a parabolic metallic mirror. We study the conditions for the setup, under which the assumption about the free-space mode structure of the radiation field in the vicinity of the atom is justified. In our analysis we apply vectorial properties of light by including the polarization degree of freedom. We look for possible changes in the spontaneous emission rate of the atom resulting from the presence of the parabolic boundary conditions.
Today the interaction of light and matter on the single quantum level is a wide research field. Strong coupling between a single photon and a single atom has already been achieved with optical cavities. Here, we treat strong interaction in free space, i.e. strong interaction whilst maintaining the free space density of states of the electromagnetic field. We pursue the coupling of a properly designed single photon wave packet to a single ion aiming at an excitation probability close to unity. For this purpose a linear dipole transition of an ion localized in the focal point of a deep parabolic mirror is addressed by a collimated laser beam focused onto the ion from nearly the full solid angle. In order to reach the highest possible coupling strength, the incident vectorial light field must be matched to the radiation pattern of the corresponding atomic transition both in the spatial and in the temporal domain. Here the generation of such an incident light mode is presented.
This thesis describes an experiment to optimize the interaction of light and a single ion in free space. The key to efficient coupling consists in mode-matching the incident electromagnetic field to the radiative properties of the ion. For perfect coupling, the incident mode has to match the emission pattern of the ion. In free space, this requires illumination of the ion with an incoming dipole wave. In the present work, such a situation is realized experimentally. To this end, a radially polarized doughnut mode is focused with a deep parabolic mirror while the ion is localized in the focal point of the parabolic mirror by means of a trap of special geometry. This thesis reports first on the implementation of the two basic components of the experiment: the ion trapping in the focal point of the parabolic mirror and the generation of the required doughnut mode. Then, the coupling efficiency of the combined system is analyzed by means of saturation measurements. Characterization of our setup reveals aberrations of the parabolic mirror which prevent perfect coupling. However, the measured coupling efficiency of (7.2 ± 0.2)% is to date among the highest values reported for coupling experiments with a single atom in free space. A special aim of our group is the full excitation of an ion by a single photon. This requires, in addition to the above mentioned spatial mode matching, temporal shaping of the incident light. Perfect excitation can be achieved if the single-photon wavepacket shows an exponentially rising envelope with a time constant matching the lifetime of the excited state of the ion. The present work demonstrates the power of temporal mode matching using a model system: an empty optical cavity. Both, light inside a cavity and atomic excitation, decay exponentially. Thus, there is an analogy between atomic excitation and field energy inside a cavity. The task of exciting an ion translates to the task of coupling a classical light pulse into a cavity. This thesis confirms experimentally that almost the entire energy of a rising exponential pulse can be coupled into a cavity, provided the pulse time constant matches the cavity lifetime.
Each natural mode of the electromagnetic field within a parabolic mirror exhibits spatial localization and polarization properties that can be exploited for the quantum control of its interaction with atomic systems. The region of localization is not restricted to the focus of the mirror leading to a selective response of atomic systems trapped on its vicinity. We report calculations of the spontaneous emission rates for an atom trapped inside the mirror accounting for all atomic polarizations and diverse trapping regions. It is shown that electric dipole transitions can be enhanced near the focus of a deep parabolic mirror with a clear identification of the few vectorial modes involved. Out of the focus the enhancement vanishes gradually, but the number of relevant modes remains small. Ultimately this represents a quantum electrodynamic system where internal and external degrees of freedom cooperate to maximize a selective exchange and detection of single excitations.
Each natural mode of the electromagnetic field within a parabolic mirror exhibits spatial localization and polarization properties that can be exploited for the quantum control of its interaction with atomic systems. The region of localization is not restricted to the focus of the mirror leading to a selective response of atomic systems trapped on its vicinity. We report calculations of the spontaneous emission rates for an atom trapped inside the mirror accounting for all atomic polarizations and diverse trapping regions. It is shown that electric dipole transitions can be enhanced near the focus of a deep parabolic mirror with a clear identification of the few vectorial modes involved. Out of the focus the enhancement vanishes gradually, but the number of relevant modes remains small. Ultimately this represents a quantum electrodynamic system where internal and external degrees of freedom cooperate to maximize a selective exchange and detection of single excitations.
We demonstrate the trapping of a single ion in the focus of a deep parabolic mirror that covers 81% of the solid angle surrounding the ion. Accounting for the reflectivity of the mirror we infer a photon collection efficiency of 54.8% for our setup. The underlying experimentally detected maximum fluorescence rate is $1.91\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}$ s${}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ from a single 174{}^{174}174Yb+{}^{+}+ ion, mainly limited by the quantum efficiency of our photon detector. Besides the high collection efficiency, the integration of an ion trap into a parabolic mirror is a key ingredient for efficient coupling of light to a single ion in free space.