New Theoretical Tools for Single Atom Laser Spectroscopy

Z. Ficek, R. Tanaś

P. R. Berman

Several topics in laser theory and the interaction of radiation with matter have been addressed. First, a mathematical theory of a high intensity single mode gas laser has been developed. New computational techniques have been applied which serve to unite several previous approaches to single mode laser theory. A generalized dressed atom approach was formulated to provide a new way of viewing the physical processes occurring when high intensity fields interact with matter. Second, a theoretical study of the manner in which laser sepctroscopy can be used to probe collision effects in atomic and molecular systems has been undertaken. Both two and three level systems were studied; steady state and coherent transient techniques were examined. It is now apparent that laser spectroscopy will be a useful tool for the determination of various excited state differential and total cross sections. (Author)

Osman Cizmeci, Muhammad Suhail Zubairy

Daniel Kleppner

Abstract : Research on this AASERT grant was focussed on the optical spectroscopy of trapped cold hydrogen for use as a spectroscopic tool and as a means of studying the gas. The grant supported research by two graduate students. During the grant an optical signal on the 1S - 2S transition in cold trapped hydrogen was observed, opening the way to a new form of ultra high resolution spectroscopy. The optical signal will also provide a valuable tool for manipulating a Bose condensate in hydrogen. The condensate can absorb two photons form a single running wave. The recoil is enough to sweep the atoms out of the trap, creating a new type of atom laser beam.

V. I. Balikin, G. I. Bekov, Vladilen S Letokhov +1 more

Kenneth R. Brown, C. Ricardo Viteri, Craig Robert Clark +3 more

Trapped laser-cooled atomic ions are a new tool for understanding cold molecular ions. The atomic ions not only sympathetically cool the molecular ions to millikelvin temperatures, but the bright atomic ion fluorescence can also serve as a detector of both molecular reactions and molecular spectra. We are working towards the detection of single molecular ion spectra by sympathetic heating spectroscopy. Sympathetic heating spectroscopy uses the coupled motion of two trapped ions to measure the spectra of one ion by observing changes in the fluorescence of the other ion. Sympathetic heating spectroscopy is a generalization of quantum logic spectroscopy, but does not require ions in the motional ground state or coherent control of the ion internal states. We have recently demonstrated this technique using two isotopes of Ca+ [Phys. Rev. A, 81, 043428 (2010)]. Limits of the method and potential applications for molecular spectroscopy are discussed.