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:0907.0674 · New Journal of Physics

Single-particle-sensitive imaging of freely propagating ultracold atoms

Robert Bücker, A. Perrin, Stephanie Manz, T Betz, Christian Koller, Thomas Plisson, J Rottmann, Thorsten Schumm, Jörg Schmiedmayer

Published Oct 21, 2009• 132 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We present a novel imaging system for ultracold quantum gases in expansion. After release from a confining potential, atoms fall through a sheet of resonant excitation laser light and the emitted fluorescence photons are imaged onto an amplified CCD camera using a high numerical aperture optical system. The imaging system reaches an extraordinary dynamic range, not attainable with conventional absorption imaging. We demonstrate single-atom detection for dilute atomic clouds with high efficiency where at the same time dense Bose-Einstein condensates can be imaged without saturation or distortion. The spatial resolution can reach the sampling limit as given by the 8 μm pixel size in object space. Pulsed operation of the detector allows for slice images, a first step toward a 3D tomography of the measured object. The scheme can easily be implemented for any atomic species and all optical components are situated outside the vacuum system. As a first application we perform thermometry on rubidium Bose-Einstein condensates created on an atom chip.

DOI
10.1088/1367-2630/11/10/103039

Related papers

Spin-resolved single-atom imaging of Li6 in free space

Andrea Bergschneider, Vincent M. Klinkhamer, Jan Hendrik Becher +4 more

We present a versatile imaging scheme for fermionic $^6$Li atoms with single-particle sensitivity. Our method works for freely propagating particles and completely eliminates the need for confining potentials during the imaging process. We illuminate individual atoms in free space with resonant light and collect their fluorescence on an electron-multiplying CCD camera using a high-numerical-aperture imaging system. We detect approximately \num{20} photons per atom during an exposure of 20 $μ$s and identify individual atoms with a fidelity of $99.4\pm0.3$ % . By addressing different optical transitions during two exposures in rapid succession, we additionally resolve the hyperfine spin state of each particle. The position uncertainty of the imaging scheme is 4.0 $μ$m, given by the diffusive motion of the particles during the imaging pulse. The absence of confining potentials enables readout procedures, such as the measurement of single-particle momenta in time of flight, which we demonstrate here. Our imaging scheme is technically simple and easily adapted to other atomic species.

arXiv:1804.04871•Physical Review A•Jun 15, 2018•121 citations

Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics with a Locally Addressable Quantum Gas

Justin A. Gerber

Motivated to develop quantum technologies and to study ever-more complex quantum systems,scientists are developing increasingly sophisticated experimental tools to control and\nmeasure quantum samples such as ensembles of ultracold atoms. A high-finesse optical\ncavity can be used to measure the state of atoms within its photonic mode with precision\nlimited only by quantum uncertainty. Such a cavity can also be used to mediate interactions\nbetween different atoms within the cavity mode. High-resolution microscope objectives have\nbeen interfaced with ultracold atom experiments to allow researchers to image single atoms\nwithin optical lattices, to trap single atoms in microtweezer arrays, and to imprint arbitrary\noptical patterns onto atomic ensembles. Among other applications, these technologies have\nallowed researchers to investigate many-body quantum systems, engineer novel interactions,\nand realize high-fidelity quantum operations.This dissertation presents the details of the design, construction, and operation of a new, versatileatomic physics apparatus that combines these two experimental tools. The apparatus\nincludes a high-finesse optical cavity into which atoms are optically transported. In addition,\nthere is a high-numerical-aperture objective aligned to image, with micron-scale resolution,\natoms trapped within the center of the optical cavity. We present results demonstrating\nthe capability of this apparatus to deliver and study ultracold atomic samples, ranging from\nsingle atoms to Bose-Einstein condensates. We demonstrate a dispersive shift of the cavity\nresonance due to the presence of atoms in the cavity mode and the trapping and imaging of\nsingle atoms in optical microtweezers. We also present an atomic scanning probe microscopy\ntechnique with which a single atom in a microtweezer is used to map out the spatial amplitude\npattern of an optical cavity mode standing wave by monitoring the position-dependent\nscattering properties of the atom.

•Jan 1, 2020•1 citation

High resolution imaging and optical control of Bose-Einstein condensates in an atom chip magnetic trap

Evan A. Salim, Seth C. Caliga, Jonathan B. Pfeiffer +1 more

A high-resolution projection and imaging system for ultracold atoms is implemented using a compound silicon and glass atom chip. The atom chip is metalized to enable magnetic trapping while glass regions enable high numerical aperture optical access to atoms residing in the magnetic trap about 100 μm below the chip surface. The atom chip serves as a wall of the vacuum system, which enables the use of commercial microscope components for projection and imaging. Holographically generated light patterns are used to optically slice a cigar-shaped magnetic trap into separate regions; this has been used to simultaneously generate up to four Bose-condensates. Using fluorescence techniques, we have demonstrated in-trap imaging resolution down to 2.5 μm.

arXiv:1208.4897•Applied Physics Letters•Feb 25, 2013•23 citations

High Resolution Imaging of Single Atoms in a Quantum Gas

Tatjana Gericke, Würtz, Peter, Reitz, Daniel +2 more

Our knowledge on ultracold quantum gases is strongly influenced by our ability to probe these objects. In situ imaging combined with single atom sensitivity is an especially appealing scenario as it can provide direct information on the structure and the correlations of such systems. For a precise characterization a high spatial resolution is mandatory. In particular, the perspective to study quantum gases in optical lattices makes a resolution well below one micrometer highly desirable. Here, we report on a novel microscopy technique which is based on scanning electron microscopy and allows for the detection of single atoms inside a quantum gas with a spatial resolution of better than 150 nm. Imaging a Bose-Einstein condensate in a one-dimensional optical lattice with 600 nm period we demonstrate single site addressability in a sub-um optical lattice. The technique offers exciting possibilities for the preparation, manipulation and analysis of quantum gases.

arXiv:0804.4788•Apr 30, 2008•1 citation

Ultra-sensitive atom imaging for matter-wave optics

Melina Pappa, Paul C. Condylis, Georgios Konstantinidis +6 more

Quantum degenerate Fermi gases and Bose–Einstein condensates give access to a vast new class of quantum states. The resulting multi-particle correlations place extreme demands on the detection schemes. Here we introduce diffractive dark-ground imaging as a novel ultra-sensitive imaging technique. Using only moderate detection optics, we image clouds of less than 30 atoms with near-atom shot-noise-limited signal-to-noise ratio and show Stern–Gerlach separated spinor condensates with a minority component of only seven atoms. This presents an improvement of more than one order of magnitude when compared to our standard absorption imaging. We also examine the optimal conditions for absorption imaging, including saturation and fluorescence contributions. Finally, we discuss potentially serious imaging errors of small atom clouds whose size is near the resolution of the optics.

New Journal of Physics•Nov 28, 2011•32 citations

Focus and depth of field tunable detection system for compact quantum sensors

Kai Frye-Arndt, Arne Wacker, Patrick Brunssen +5 more

Absorption imaging is a well-established method for determining both the atom number and spatial distribution of atomic ensembles, traditionally limited to a single focal plane and a fixed depth of field. However, as atom optics experiments grow more complex, atomic clouds can exceed the depth of field or leave the focal plane, as seen in large atomic arrays or bubble Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs). Here, we present an absorption imaging system that allows for tuning the object distance of 88.9 mm by ±5 mm and the depth of field from 26 µm to 203 µm. We determine performance metrics relevant for atomic experiments, such as the resolution and the optical distortion.

Optics Express•Jan 14, 2026•0 citations
We present a novel imaging system for ultracold quantum gases in expansion. After release from a confining potential, atoms fall through a sheet of resonant excitation laser light and the emitted fluorescence photons are imaged onto an amplified CCD camera using a high numerical aperture optical system. The imaging system reaches an extraordinary dynamic range, not attainable with conventional absorption imaging. We demonstrate single-atom detection for dilute atomic clouds with high efficiency where at the same time dense Bose-Einstein condensates can be imaged without saturation or distortion. The spatial resolution can reach the sampling limit as given by the 8 μm pixel size in object space. Pulsed operation of the detector allows for slice images, a first step toward a 3D tomography of the measured object. The scheme can easily be implemented for any atomic species and all optical components are situated outside the vacuum system. As a first application we perform thermometry on rubidium Bose-Einstein condensates created on an atom chip.
We present a versatile imaging scheme for fermionic 6^66Li atoms with single-particle sensitivity. Our method works for freely propagating particles and completely eliminates the need for confining potentials during the imaging process. We illuminate individual atoms in free space with resonant light and collect their fluorescence on an electron-multiplying CCD camera using a high-numerical-aperture imaging system. We detect approximately \num{20} photons per atom during an exposure of 20 μμμs and identify individual atoms with a fidelity of 99.4±0.399.4\pm0.399.4±0.3 % . By addressing different optical transitions during two exposures in rapid succession, we additionally resolve the hyperfine spin state of each particle. The position uncertainty of the imaging scheme is 4.0 μμμm, given by the diffusive motion of the particles during the imaging pulse. The absence of confining potentials enables readout procedures, such as the measurement of single-particle momenta in time of flight, which we demonstrate here. Our imaging scheme is technically simple and easily adapted to other atomic species.
Motivated to develop quantum technologies and to study ever-more complex quantum systems,scientists are developing increasingly sophisticated experimental tools to control and\nmeasure quantum samples such as ensembles of ultracold atoms. A high-finesse optical\ncavity can be used to measure the state of atoms within its photonic mode with precision\nlimited only by quantum uncertainty. Such a cavity can also be used to mediate interactions\nbetween different atoms within the cavity mode. High-resolution microscope objectives have\nbeen interfaced with ultracold atom experiments to allow researchers to image single atoms\nwithin optical lattices, to trap single atoms in microtweezer arrays, and to imprint arbitrary\noptical patterns onto atomic ensembles. Among other applications, these technologies have\nallowed researchers to investigate many-body quantum systems, engineer novel interactions,\nand realize high-fidelity quantum operations.This dissertation presents the details of the design, construction, and operation of a new, versatileatomic physics apparatus that combines these two experimental tools. The apparatus\nincludes a high-finesse optical cavity into which atoms are optically transported. In addition,\nthere is a high-numerical-aperture objective aligned to image, with micron-scale resolution,\natoms trapped within the center of the optical cavity. We present results demonstrating\nthe capability of this apparatus to deliver and study ultracold atomic samples, ranging from\nsingle atoms to Bose-Einstein condensates. We demonstrate a dispersive shift of the cavity\nresonance due to the presence of atoms in the cavity mode and the trapping and imaging of\nsingle atoms in optical microtweezers. We also present an atomic scanning probe microscopy\ntechnique with which a single atom in a microtweezer is used to map out the spatial amplitude\npattern of an optical cavity mode standing wave by monitoring the position-dependent\nscattering properties of the atom.
A high-resolution projection and imaging system for ultracold atoms is implemented using a compound silicon and glass atom chip. The atom chip is metalized to enable magnetic trapping while glass regions enable high numerical aperture optical access to atoms residing in the magnetic trap about 100 μm below the chip surface. The atom chip serves as a wall of the vacuum system, which enables the use of commercial microscope components for projection and imaging. Holographically generated light patterns are used to optically slice a cigar-shaped magnetic trap into separate regions; this has been used to simultaneously generate up to four Bose-condensates. Using fluorescence techniques, we have demonstrated in-trap imaging resolution down to 2.5 μm.
Our knowledge on ultracold quantum gases is strongly influenced by our ability to probe these objects. In situ imaging combined with single atom sensitivity is an especially appealing scenario as it can provide direct information on the structure and the correlations of such systems. For a precise characterization a high spatial resolution is mandatory. In particular, the perspective to study quantum gases in optical lattices makes a resolution well below one micrometer highly desirable. Here, we report on a novel microscopy technique which is based on scanning electron microscopy and allows for the detection of single atoms inside a quantum gas with a spatial resolution of better than 150 nm. Imaging a Bose-Einstein condensate in a one-dimensional optical lattice with 600 nm period we demonstrate single site addressability in a sub-um optical lattice. The technique offers exciting possibilities for the preparation, manipulation and analysis of quantum gases.
Quantum degenerate Fermi gases and Bose–Einstein condensates give access to a vast new class of quantum states. The resulting multi-particle correlations place extreme demands on the detection schemes. Here we introduce diffractive dark-ground imaging as a novel ultra-sensitive imaging technique. Using only moderate detection optics, we image clouds of less than 30 atoms with near-atom shot-noise-limited signal-to-noise ratio and show Stern–Gerlach separated spinor condensates with a minority component of only seven atoms. This presents an improvement of more than one order of magnitude when compared to our standard absorption imaging. We also examine the optimal conditions for absorption imaging, including saturation and fluorescence contributions. Finally, we discuss potentially serious imaging errors of small atom clouds whose size is near the resolution of the optics.
Absorption imaging is a well-established method for determining both the atom number and spatial distribution of atomic ensembles, traditionally limited to a single focal plane and a fixed depth of field. However, as atom optics experiments grow more complex, atomic clouds can exceed the depth of field or leave the focal plane, as seen in large atomic arrays or bubble Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs). Here, we present an absorption imaging system that allows for tuning the object distance of 88.9 mm by ±5 mm and the depth of field from 26 µm to 203 µm. We determine performance metrics relevant for atomic experiments, such as the resolution and the optical distortion.