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:2205.13899

Precise, super-resolving intensity measurement by quantum jump spectroscopy of a single neutral atom

Lorena C. Bianchet, Natalia Fernandes de Oliveira Alves, Laura Zarraoa, Tomas Lamich, Vindhiya Prakash, Morgan W. Mitchell

Published May 27, 2022• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We present precise, sub-wavelength optical intensity measurement using a single trapped $^{87}$Rb atom as a sensor. The intensity is measured by the scalar ac Stark shift it produces on the $F=1 \rightarrow F'=2$ hyperfine transition of the D$_{2}$ line, chosen for its $F' = F+1$ 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.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2205.13899

Related papers

Quantum jump spectroscopy of a single neutral atom for precise subwavelength intensity measurements

Lorena C. Bianchet, Natália Alves, Laura Zarraoa +3 more

A single trapped neutral atom is used for precise subwavelength intensity measurements. Quantum jumps from a dark to a bright atomic state are used to boost signal-to-noise and avoid systematic errors.

Physical Review Research•Nov 14, 2022•7 citations

Characterizing light shift of an open optical Zeeman transition with a single cesium atom in an optical tweezer

Qing Fan, Pengfei Yang, Da Xu +6 more

Characterizing the trap-light-induced frequency shifts of optical Zeeman transitions is essential for the precise control of the interacting dynamics between optically trapped single atoms and external light fields. The closed hyperfine transition, for example, 6 S 1/2 | F = 4〉 → 6 P 3/2 | F ′ = 5〉 of the cesium (Cs) atom, is commonly used because of its high transition strength. However, within this hyperfine transition line, different Zeeman transitions experience distinct light shifts due to diverse susceptibilities to the light field, which are usually sorted as dynamic scalar, vector, and tensor polarizabilities. Here, we report an efficient method for measuring the light shifts of optical Zeeman transitions using single neutral atoms confined in an optical tweezer (OT). The method employs a weak probe beam together with an auxiliary optical pumping beam to manipulate the atomic population in ground states. In this way, population changes in a specific Zeeman state are mapped onto a different ground-state hyperfine manifold, allowing the optical spectrum of the Zeeman transition to be reconstructed through standard state-detection techniques. By using the method, we demonstrate the spectrum measurement of the open Zeeman transition 6 S 1/2 | F = 4, m F = 4〉 → 6 P 3/2 | F ′ = 5, m F ′ = 3〉 for a single Cs atom trapped in a π polarized OT. We further perform a systematic characterization of the tweezer-induced light shifts for both this open transition and the closed Zeeman transition 6 S 1/2 | F = 4, m F = 4〉 → 6 P 3/2 | F ′ = 5, m F ′ = 5〉 over a wide range of trap depths. The influence of the tensor polarizability in deep trap depths is experimentally observed.

Optics Express•Dec 10, 2025•1 citation

Precision measurement of the Rb87 tune-out wavelength in the hyperfine ground state F=1 at 790 nm

Felix Schmidt, Daniel Mayer, Michael Hohmann +3 more

We report on a precision measurement of the $D$ line tune-out wavelength of $^{87}\text{Rb}$ in the hyperfine ground state $\left|F=1,{m}_{F}=0,\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1\right\ensuremath{\rangle}$ manifold at $790\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$, where the scalar ac Stark shifts of the ${D}_{1}$ and the ${D}_{2}$ lines cancel. This wavelength is sensitive to usually neglected contributions from vector and tensor ac Stark shifts, transitions to higher principle quantum numbers, and core electrons. The ac Stark shift is probed by Kapitza-Dirac scattering of a rubidium Bose-Einstein condensate in a one-dimensional optical lattice in free space and controlled magnetic environment. The tune-out wavelength of the magnetically insensitive ${m}_{F}=0$ state was determined to $790.01858(23)\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{m}$ with sub-pm accuracy. An in situ absolute polarization, and magnetic background field measurement is performed by employing the ac vector Stark shift for the ${m}_{F}=\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1$ states. Comparing our findings to theory, we get quantitative insight into atomic physics beyond commonly used two-level atom approximations or the neglect of inner shell contributions.

arXiv:1512.03578•Physical Review A•Feb 16, 2016•56 citations

Experimental Observation of Magic-Wavelength Behavior in Optical Lattice-Trapped 87 Rb | NIST

J. V. Porto, Nathan E. Lundblad, Malte Schlosser

We demonstrate the cancellation of the differential ac Stark shift of the microwave hyperfine clock transition in trapped 87 Rb atoms. Recent progress in metrology exploits so-called “magic wavelengths,” whereby an atomic ensemble can be trapped with laser light whose wavelength is chosen so that both levels of an optical atomic transition experience identical ac Stark shifts. Similar magic-wavelength techniques are not possible for the microwave hyperfine transitions in the alkalis, due to their simple electronic structure. We show, however, that ac Stark shift cancellation is indeed achievable for certain values of wavelength, polarization, and magnetic field. The cancellation comes at the expense of a small magnetic-field sensitivity. The technique demonstrated here has implications for experiments involving the precise control of optically-trapped neutral atoms.

Physical Review Letters•Mar 29, 2010•1 citation

Precision measurement of cesium 6S–7S two-photon spectra with single trapped atoms

Yali Tian, Pengfei Yang, Wei Wu +4 more

Abstract A new method to precisely measure the hyperfine spectra of a weak atomic transition line with very low probe power is presented by combining the optical pumping and state detection techniques. By adopting such a method, we demonstrate an experiment to measure the cesium 6S–7S two-photon spectra with optically trapped single atoms. The power of the probe beam in our experiment is on the micro-watt level and the corresponding intensity is on the level of hundreds of watts per square centimeter. Both are much weaker than that of traditional fluorescence detection measurements. The corresponding hyperfine coupling constant A hps of the 7S state is also determined, and is in good agreement with former measurements.

Japanese Journal of Applied Physics•Feb 20, 2019•3 citations

Magic Polarization for Optical Trapping of Atoms without Stark-Induced Dephasing

Huidong Kim, Hyok Sang Han, D. Cho

We demonstrate that the differential ac-Stark shift of a Zeeman-sensitive ground hyperfine transition in an optical trap can be eliminated by using properly polarized trapping light. We use the vector polarizability of an alkali-metal atom to produce a polarization-dependent ac-Stark shift that resembles a Zeeman shift. We study a transition from the $|2{S}_{1/2},F=2,{m}_{F}=\ensuremath{-}2⟩$ to the $|2{S}_{1/2},F=1,{m}_{F}=\ensuremath{-}1⟩$ state of $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ to observe $0.59\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{Hz}$ linewidth with interrogation time of 2 s and $0.82\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.06\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{s}$ coherence time of a superposition state. Implications of the narrow linewidth and the long coherence time for precision spectroscopy and quantum information processing using atoms in an optical lattice are discussed.

arXiv:1311.1290•Physical Review Letters•Dec 11, 2013•34 citations
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.
Characterizing the trap-light-induced frequency shifts of optical Zeeman transitions is essential for the precise control of the interacting dynamics between optically trapped single atoms and external light fields. The closed hyperfine transition, for example, 6 S 1/2 | F = 4〉 → 6 P 3/2 | F ′ = 5〉 of the cesium (Cs) atom, is commonly used because of its high transition strength. However, within this hyperfine transition line, different Zeeman transitions experience distinct light shifts due to diverse susceptibilities to the light field, which are usually sorted as dynamic scalar, vector, and tensor polarizabilities. Here, we report an efficient method for measuring the light shifts of optical Zeeman transitions using single neutral atoms confined in an optical tweezer (OT). The method employs a weak probe beam together with an auxiliary optical pumping beam to manipulate the atomic population in ground states. In this way, population changes in a specific Zeeman state are mapped onto a different ground-state hyperfine manifold, allowing the optical spectrum of the Zeeman transition to be reconstructed through standard state-detection techniques. By using the method, we demonstrate the spectrum measurement of the open Zeeman transition 6 S 1/2 | F = 4, m F = 4〉 → 6 P 3/2 | F ′ = 5, m F ′ = 3〉 for a single Cs atom trapped in a π polarized OT. We further perform a systematic characterization of the tweezer-induced light shifts for both this open transition and the closed Zeeman transition 6 S 1/2 | F = 4, m F = 4〉 → 6 P 3/2 | F ′ = 5, m F ′ = 5〉 over a wide range of trap depths. The influence of the tensor polarizability in deep trap depths is experimentally observed.
We report on a precision measurement of the DDD line tune-out wavelength of 87Rb^{87}\text{Rb}87Rb in the hyperfine ground state $\left|F=1,{m}_{F}=0,\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1\right\ensuremath{\rangle}$ manifold at 790nm790\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}790nm, where the scalar ac Stark shifts of the D1{D}_{1}D1​ and the D2{D}_{2}D2​ lines cancel. This wavelength is sensitive to usually neglected contributions from vector and tensor ac Stark shifts, transitions to higher principle quantum numbers, and core electrons. The ac Stark shift is probed by Kapitza-Dirac scattering of a rubidium Bose-Einstein condensate in a one-dimensional optical lattice in free space and controlled magnetic environment. The tune-out wavelength of the magnetically insensitive mF=0{m}_{F}=0mF​=0 state was determined to 790.01858(23)nm790.01858(23)\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{m}790.01858(23)nm with sub-pm accuracy. An in situ absolute polarization, and magnetic background field measurement is performed by employing the ac vector Stark shift for the ${m}_{F}=\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1$ states. Comparing our findings to theory, we get quantitative insight into atomic physics beyond commonly used two-level atom approximations or the neglect of inner shell contributions.
We demonstrate the cancellation of the differential ac Stark shift of the microwave hyperfine clock transition in trapped 87 Rb atoms. Recent progress in metrology exploits so-called “magic wavelengths,” whereby an atomic ensemble can be trapped with laser light whose wavelength is chosen so that both levels of an optical atomic transition experience identical ac Stark shifts. Similar magic-wavelength techniques are not possible for the microwave hyperfine transitions in the alkalis, due to their simple electronic structure. We show, however, that ac Stark shift cancellation is indeed achievable for certain values of wavelength, polarization, and magnetic field. The cancellation comes at the expense of a small magnetic-field sensitivity. The technique demonstrated here has implications for experiments involving the precise control of optically-trapped neutral atoms.
Abstract A new method to precisely measure the hyperfine spectra of a weak atomic transition line with very low probe power is presented by combining the optical pumping and state detection techniques. By adopting such a method, we demonstrate an experiment to measure the cesium 6S–7S two-photon spectra with optically trapped single atoms. The power of the probe beam in our experiment is on the micro-watt level and the corresponding intensity is on the level of hundreds of watts per square centimeter. Both are much weaker than that of traditional fluorescence detection measurements. The corresponding hyperfine coupling constant A hps of the 7S state is also determined, and is in good agreement with former measurements.
We demonstrate that the differential ac-Stark shift of a Zeeman-sensitive ground hyperfine transition in an optical trap can be eliminated by using properly polarized trapping light. We use the vector polarizability of an alkali-metal atom to produce a polarization-dependent ac-Stark shift that resembles a Zeeman shift. We study a transition from the $|2{S}_{1/2},F=2,{m}_{F}=\ensuremath{-}2⟩$ to the $|2{S}_{1/2},F=1,{m}_{F}=\ensuremath{-}1⟩$ state of 7Li^{7}\mathrm{Li}7Li to observe $0.59\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{Hz}$ linewidth with interrogation time of 2 s and $0.82\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.06\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{s}$ coherence time of a superposition state. Implications of the narrow linewidth and the long coherence time for precision spectroscopy and quantum information processing using atoms in an optical lattice are discussed.