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arXiv:2407.02278 · Physical Review A

Magic-wavelength nanofiber-based two-color dipole trap with sub- λ / 2 spacing

Lucas Pache, Martin Cordier, Hector Letellier, Max Schemmer, Philipp Schneeweiß, Jürgen Volz, Arno Rauschenbeutel

Published Jun 13, 2025• 9 citations
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Abstract

We report on the realization and characterization of a novel magic-wavelength nanofiber-based two-color optical dipole trap for cesium that allows us to generate two diametral periodic one-dimensional arrays of trapping sites with a spacing significantly smaller than half the resonant free-space wavelength of the cesium D 2 transition. This is achieved by launching a blue-detuned partial standing wave and two red-detuned light fields through the nanofiber. We trap and optically interface the atoms in the resulting periodic optical potential and characterize the trap by measuring the lifetime of the trapped atoms, the atom-light coupling strength, the filling factor, and the trap frequencies in the radial and axial directions. The implementation of this nanofiber-based optical interface with magic trapping wavelengths and sub- λ / 2 spacing is an important step towards the exploration of novel collective radiative effects, such as selective radiance.

DOI
10.1103/89l1-dys4

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We report on the realization and characterization of a novel magic-wavelength nanofiber-based two-color optical dipole trap for cesium that allows us to generate two diametral periodic one-dimensional arrays of trapping sites with a spacing significantly smaller than half the resonant free-space wavelength of the cesium D 2 transition. This is achieved by launching a blue-detuned partial standing wave and two red-detuned light fields through the nanofiber. We trap and optically interface the atoms in the resulting periodic optical potential and characterize the trap by measuring the lifetime of the trapped atoms, the atom-light coupling strength, the filling factor, and the trap frequencies in the radial and axial directions. The implementation of this nanofiber-based optical interface with magic trapping wavelengths and sub- λ / 2 spacing is an important step towards the exploration of novel collective radiative effects, such as selective radiance.
Towards the Observation of Collective Radiance Phenomena in a One-Dimensional Array of Waveguide-Coupled Atoms with Sub −λ/2-\lambda/2−λ/2 Spacing
Recently, it has been shown theoretically that the fidelity of photon storage and retrieval in quantum memories scales exponentially better with the number of emitters if one harnesses the collective response of closely spaced atoms ordered in an array [1]. The improved scaling relies on the effect of selective radiance, that is, destructive interference that suppresses scattering into undesired modes. This occurs when the period of an array of emitters is less than half of the atomic resonant wavelength of the probe laser(d<λ/2)(d < \lambda/2)(d<λ/2). In order to realize this situation, we trap and optically interface laser-cooled cesium atoms using a two-color nanofiber-based dipole trap [2]. It is composed of a blue-detuned partial standing wave and two red-detuned running wave light fields, which counter-propagate in the fiber to compensate the inhomgenous broadening due to the vector light shift [3]. The resulting trapping potential consists of two 1D-arrays of trapping sites on the opposite sides of the nanofiber, where the axial period isd≃0.35λd\simeq 0.35\lambdad≃0.35λ. Radially, the minima of the trapping potential are located at a distance of 300nm from the fibers surface. We characterize the trap by measuring the trap frequencies, the total number of stored atoms, the fraction of sites filled with a single atom in the collisional blockade regime, and the lifetime of the atoms.
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Abstract We propose two experimental schemes for nanofiber-based compensated optical dipole traps that optimize the collective coupling of a one-dimensional array of atoms. The created array satisfies the second-order Bragg condition ( d = λ ), facilitating constructive interference of atomic radiation into the nanofiber and generating coherent back reflections of guided modes. Both schemes use far-off resonance light to minimize light scattering and atomic heating. Our numerical study focuses on the D2 line for 87 Rb atoms. The results are generalizable to different atomic species and could improve the study of collective and nonlinear atomic effects.
Abstract A magic-wavelength optical dipole trap (ODT) can eliminate the differential light shift of the transition between atomic states, so that transition frequency between the two states is the same as that in free space, which is of great significance for exploring atomic structure. Here we calculate the dynamic polarizabilities of the 6S1/2 ground state and 6P1/2 excited state of the cesium atom which are connected by the D1 line, by using the relativistic coupled cluster method, and obtain magic wavelengths of ODT laser for trapping the two states simultaneously. By using these magic wavelengths, we calculate oscillator strength of the 6P1/2 → 7D3/2 transition for linearly and circularly polarized lights. Furthermore, we analyze the influence of magic wavelengths on oscillator strengths.