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arXiv:1211.0571 · Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics

Study of surface potentials using resonant tunnelling of cold atoms in optical lattices

Vladyslav V Ivanov

Published Sep 18, 2012• 5 citations
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Abstract

We study the feasibility of precision measurements of surface potentials at micrometre distances using resonant tunnelling of cold atoms trapped in vertical optical lattices. A modulation of an amplitude of the lattice potential induces atomic tunnelling among the lattice sites. The resonant modulation frequency corresponds to a difference of potential energy between lattice sites, which is defined by an external force, i.e. gravity. The vicinity of the surface alters the external potentials, and hence the resonant frequency. Application of this method allows the accurate study of Casimir-type potentials and improvement of the present experimental validity of the Newtonian gravitational potential at a distance range of 5–30 μm.

DOI
10.1088/0953-4075/45/20/205004

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We study the feasibility of precision measurements of surface potentials at micrometre distances using resonant tunnelling of cold atoms trapped in vertical optical lattices. A modulation of an amplitude of the lattice potential induces atomic tunnelling among the lattice sites. The resonant modulation frequency corresponds to a difference of potential energy between lattice sites, which is defined by an external force, i.e. gravity. The vicinity of the surface alters the external potentials, and hence the resonant frequency. Application of this method allows the accurate study of Casimir-type potentials and improvement of the present experimental validity of the Newtonian gravitational potential at a distance range of 5–30 μm.
We describe an experiment based on atoms trapped close to a macroscopic surface, to study the interactions between the atoms and the surface at very small separations $(0.6--10\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m})$. In this range the dominant potential is the QED interaction (Casimir-Polder and van der Waals) between the surface and the atom. Additionally, several theoretical models suggest the possibility of Yukawa-type potentials with sub-millimeter range, arising from new physics related to gravity. The proposed setup is very similar to neutral atom optical lattice clocks, but with the atoms trapped in lattice sites close to the reflecting mirror. A sequence of pulses of the probe laser at different frequencies is then used to create an interferometer with a coherent superposition between atomic states at different distances from the mirror (in different lattice sites). Assuming atom interferometry state-of-the-art measurement of the phase difference and a duration of the superposition of about 0.1s0.1\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{s}0.1s, we expect to be able to measure the potential difference between separated states with an uncertainty of $\ensuremath{\approx}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{Hz}$. An analysis of systematic effects for different atoms and surfaces indicates no fundamentally limiting effect at the same level of uncertainty, but does influence the choice of atom and surface material. Based on those estimates, we expect that such an experiment would improve the best existing measurements of the atom-wall QED interaction by \ensuremath{\geqslant} 2 orders of magnitude, while gaining up to four orders of magnitude on the best present limits on new interactions in the range between 100nm100\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}100nm and $100\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$.
The authors propose a novel experiment based on atoms trapped close to a macroscopic surface, to study the interactions between the atoms and the surface at very small separations (0.6 to 10 mum). In this range the dominant potential is the QED interaction (Casimir-Polder and Van der Waals) between the surface and the atom. Additionally, several theoretical models suggest the possibility of Yukawa type potentials with sub-mm range, arising from new physics related to gravity. The paper proposes a set-up very similar to neutral atom optical lattice clocks, but with the atoms trapped in lattice sites close to the reflecting mirror. A sequence of pulses of the probe laser at different frequencies is then used to create an interferometer with a coherent superposition between atomic states at different distances from the mirror (in different lattice sites). Assuming atom interferometry state of the art measurement of the phase difference and a duration of the superposition of about 0.1s we expect to be able to measure the potential difference between separated states with an uncertainty of about 10-4Hz. A preliminary analysis of systematic effects for different atoms (Sr, Yb, Rb, Cs) indicates no fundamentally limiting effect at the same level of uncertainty, but does influence the choice of atom and isotope. Based on those estimates, we expect that such an experiment would improve the best existing measurements of the atom-wall QED interaction by <2 orders of magnitude, whilst gaining up to 4 orders of magnitude on the best present limits on new interactions in the range between 100 nm and 100mum
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In recent years, cold atoms have been the centerpiece of many remarkably sensitive measurements, and much effort has been made to devise miniaturized quantum sensors and quantum information processing devices. At small distances, however, mechanical effects of the quantum vacuum begin to significantly impact the behavior of the cold-atom systems. A better understanding of how surface composition and geometry affect Casimir and Casimir--Polder potentials would benefit future engineering of small-scale devices. Unfortunately, theoretical solutions are limited and the number of experimental techniques that can accurately detect such short-range forces is relatively small. \n \nWe believe the exemplary properties of atomic strontium---which have enabled unprecedented frequency metrology in optical lattice clocks---make it an ideal candidate for probing slight spectroscopic perturbations caused by vacuum fluctuations. \n \nTo that end, we have constructed a magneto-optical trap for strontium to enable future study of atom--surface potentials, and the apparatus and proposed detection scheme are discussed herein. Of special note is a passively stable external-cavity diode laser we developed that is both affordable and competitive with high-end commercial options.
In this paper, we discuss the atomic states in a vertical optical lattice in proximity of a surface. We study the modifications to the ordinary Wannier-Stark states in the presence of a surface, and we characterize the energy shifts produced by the Casimir-Polder interaction between atom and mirror. In this context, we introduce an effective model describing the finite size of the atom in order to regularize the energy corrections. In addition, the modifications to the energy levels due to a hypothetical non-Newtonian gravitational potential as well as their experimental observability are investigated.
We report the realization of a quantum device for force sensing at the micrometric scale. We trap an ultracold 88Sr^{88}\mathrm{Sr}88Sr atomic cloud with a one-dimensional (1D) optical lattice; then we place the atomic sample close to a test surface using the same optical lattice as an elevator. We demonstrate precise positioning of the sample at the micrometer scale. By observing the Bloch oscillations of atoms into the 1D optical standing wave, we are able to measure the total force on the atoms along the lattice axis, with a spatial resolution of few micrometers. We also demonstrate a technique for transverse displacement of the atoms, allowing us to perform measurements near either transparent or reflective test surfaces. In order to reduce the minimum distance from the surface, we compress the longitudinal size of the atomic sample by means of an optical tweezer. This system is suited for studies of atom-surface interaction at short distance, such as measurement of the Casimir force and the search for possible non-Newtonian gravity effects.