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arXiv:1304.3346 · Physical Review A

Nondestructive light-shift measurements of single atoms in optical dipole traps

Chung-Yu Shih, Michael Chapman

Published Jun 10, 2013• 42 citations
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Abstract

We measure the ac Stark shifts of the $5{S}_{1/2},F=2\ensuremath{\rightarrow}5{P}_{3/2},{F}^{\ensuremath{'}}=3$ transitions of individual optically trapped ${}^{87}$Rb atoms using a nondestructive detection technique that allows us to measure the fluorescent signal of one and the same atom for over 60 s. These measurements allow the efficient and rapid characterization of single-atom traps that is required for many coherent quantum information protocols. Although this method is demonstrated using a single-atom trap, the concept is readily extended to resolvable atomic arrays.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.87.063408

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We measure the ac Stark shifts of the 5S1/2,F=2\ensuremath→5P3/2,F\ensuremath′=35{S}_{1/2},F=2\ensuremath{\rightarrow}5{P}_{3/2},{F}^{\ensuremath{'}}=35S1/2​,F=2\ensuremath→5P3/2​,F\ensuremath′=3 transitions of individual optically trapped 87{}^{87}87Rb atoms using a nondestructive detection technique that allows us to measure the fluorescent signal of one and the same atom for over 60 s. These measurements allow the efficient and rapid characterization of single-atom traps that is required for many coherent quantum information protocols. Although this method is demonstrated using a single-atom trap, the concept is readily extended to resolvable atomic arrays.
We achieve fast, nondestructive quantum-state readout via fluorescence detection of a single 87Rb^{87}\mathrm{Rb}87Rb atom in the 5S1/25{S}_{1/2}5S1/2​ (F=2)(F=2)(F=2) ground state held in an optical dipole trap. The atom is driven by linearly polarized readout laser beams, making the scheme insensitive to the distribution of atomic population in magnetic sublevels. We demonstrate a readout fidelity of $97.6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2%$ in a readout time of $160\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}20\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{s}$ with the atom retained in >97>97%>97 of the trials, representing an advancement over other magnetic-state-insensitive techniques. We demonstrate that the F=2F=2F=2 state is partially protected from optical pumping by the distribution of the dipole matrix elements for the various transitions and the ac-Stark shifts from the optical trap. Our results are likely to find application in neutral-atom quantum computing and simulation.
Ultracold neutral atoms confined in optical dipole traps have important applications in quantum computation and information processing, quantum simulators of interacting-many-body systems and atomic frequency metrology. While optical dipole traps are powerful tools for cold atom experiments, the energy level structures of the trapped atoms are shifted by the trapping field, and it is important to characterize these shifts in order to accurately manipulate and control the quantum state of the system.\n\nIn order to measure the light shifts, we have designed a system that allows us to reliably trap individual 87Rb atoms. A non-destructive detection technique is employed so that the trapped atoms can be continuously observed for over 100 seconds. Single atom spectroscopy, trap frequency measurements, and temperature measurements are performed on single atoms in a single focus trap and small number of atoms in a 1D optical lattice in order to characterize the trapping environment, the perturbed energy level structures, and the probe-induced heating.\n\nIn the second part of the thesis, we demonstrate deterministic delivery of an array of individual atoms to an optical cavity and selective addressability of individual atoms in a 1D optical conveyor, which serves as a potential candidate for scalable quantum information processing. The experiment is extended to a dual lattice system coupled to a single cavity with the capability of independent lattice control and addressability. The mutual interactions of atoms in different lattices mediated by a common cavity field are demonstrated. A semi-classical model in the many-atom regime based on the Jaynes-Cummings model is developed to describe the system that is in good qualitative agreement with the data. This work provides a foundation for developing multi-qubit quantum information experiments with a dual lattice cavity system.
In this work we characterize a state-insensitive dipole trap for cold cesium atoms, as realized by tightly focusing a single running laser beam at the magic wavelength. The use of trapping light at the magic wavelength of 935.6935.6935.6 nm resulted in the same ac Stark shift for the 6S1/2{}^{6}{S}_{1/2}6S1/2​ ground state and the 6P3/2{}^{6}{P}_{3/2}6P3/2​ excited state. A complete characterization of the trap is given, which includes the dependence of the lifetime on the trap depth, an analysis of the important role played by a depumper beam, and a comparison with dipole trapping at different (nonmagic) wavelengths. In particular, we measured the differential light shift of the relevant optical transition as a function of the trapping light wavelength, and showed that it becomes zero at the magic wavelength. Our results are compared to previous realizations of state-insensitive dipole traps for cesium atoms. We also discuss the possible role of the state-insensitive trap, its limitations, and possible developments for the study of ground-state quantum coherence phenomena and related applications.
A method for nondestructive characterization of a dipole-trapped atomic sample is presented. It relies on a measurement of the phase shift imposed by cold atoms on an optical pulse that propagates through a free-space Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Using this technique we are able to determine, with very good accuracy, relevant trap parameters such as the atomic sample temperature, trap oscillation frequencies, and loss rates. Another important feature is that our method is faster than conventional absorption or fluorescence techniques, allowing the combination of high-dynamical range measurements and a reduced number of spontaneous emission events per atom.
We present precise, sub-wavelength optical intensity measurement using a single trapped 87^{87}87Rb atom as a sensor. The intensity is measured by the scalar ac Stark shift it produces on the F=1→F′=2F=1 \rightarrow F'=2F=1→F′=2 hyperfine transition of the D2_{2}2​ line, chosen for its F′=F+1F' = F+1F′=F+1 structure and very small tensor polarizability. To boost signal and reduce measurement-induced perturbations, we use a quantum jump spectroscopy technique in which a single absorbed photon on a transition of interest induces the scattering of hundreds of photons on a bright closed transition. The method greatly reduces systematic effects associated with the atomic state, optical polarization, probe power, and atom heating, and gives the atomic temperature as a second spectroscopic observable. We demonstrate the method by measuring the intensity at the focus of an optical tweezer.
We realize a scanning probe microscope using single trapped ^{87}Rb atoms to measure optical fields with subwavelength spatial resolution. Our microscope operates by detecting fluorescence from a single atom driven by near-resonant light and determining the ac Stark shift of an atomic transition from other local optical fields via the change in the fluorescence rate. We benchmark the microscope by measuring two standing-wave Gaussian modes of a Fabry-Pérot resonator with optical wavelengths of 1560 and 781 nm. We attain a spatial resolution of 300 nm, which is superresolving compared to the limit set by the 780 nm wavelength of the detected light. Sensitivity to short length scale features is enhanced by adapting the sensor to characterize an optical field via the force it exerts on the atom.