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Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference

Atomic funnel with evanescent waves

Hajime Ito, Keiji Sakaki, Toshiyuki Nakata, Wonho Jhe, Motoichi Ohtsu

Published Jun 7, 1996• 1 citation
OpenAlex

Abstract

Summary form only given. Cold atoms are expected to be applied to experiments on quantum motion, topological phenomena, cavity QED, and so on. Most of the interesting experiments require precise control on atomic motion. We have proposed the atomic waveguide by evanescent waves to enable the precise one-dimensional manipulation of atoms. The atomic waveguide is composed of a cylindrical-core hollow fiber with a hollow diameter of a few microns. The attachment of a funnel for atoms should be effective in coupling atoms to the atomic waveguide. In this work we present a novel scheme of the atomic funnel based on the dipole force from evanescent waves. Compared to the 2D MOT funnel, the evanescent-wave funnel has a further advantage of acting as a gravitational trap.

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Evanescent light-wave atomic funnel: A tandem hollow-fiber, hollow-beam approach

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Atomic funnel with evanescent light

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We propose an atomic funnel composed of an evanescent-light mirror produced in a conical hollow prism. The funneling of cold Rb atoms released from a magneto-optical trap is simulated in the scheme of the evanescent-light-induced Sisyphus cooling for compensating the heating by gravity. A geometric method of the conversion of a Gaussian light beam into a doughnut-shaped light beam suitable for the atomic funnel is also experimentally demonstrated by means of a double-cone prism. Under the assumption of a proper optical intensity distribution over the inner surface of a specific conical hollow prism, the Monte Carlo simulation including the van der Waals interaction shows that a half of the released Rb atoms can be collected and the mean temperature of the collected atoms is low enough for the application to be guided with a bent hollow optical fiber.

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Summary form only given. Electromagnetic fields have been used extensively to manipulate and control atoms. Intersecting light beams are used to create standing waves that act as an optical lattice potential. Evanescent fields at a surface can be used as a mirror to reflect atoms scattering on the surface. Atoms can propagate inside a hollow core fiber provided that an evanescent surface field keeps the atoms away from the inner wall. These fields are used to move and locate atoms so that they can interact, interfere, and entangle. We have been examining the two color scheme with realistic integrated optical waveguide structures. In this presentation, we show that two-dimensional and three-dimensional trapping configurations can be achieved for real waveguide structures. We discuss the design features that must be addressed to implement optical structures for use in atom optics.

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We report the recent progress of the experiments on guiding atoms by evanescent waves in micron-sized hollow optical fibers. The lateral manipulation accuracy is enhanced up to 1 micron with a large increase of more than 50 times on the guided atom flux. Moreover, the frequency tuning enables the fine control of the guided flux with a numerical accuracy of 10 atom/s. The atom-guidance scheme is applied to in-line isotope separation on rubidium atoms and measurement of the cavity quantum electrodynamic effect in a cylindrical dielectric. In addition, the feasibility of fabricating micron-sized structures with nanometric depth is discussed including the manipulation of a small number of laser-cooled atoms.

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An optically-guided atomic fountain

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Summary form only given. The optical guidance of cold atoms by the hollow laser beam (HLB) with blue detuning has been well understood experimentally and theoretically (Xinye Xu et al, 2000). Based on this clear understanding and the development of an efficient atomic guiding, we have performed the experiment of optically guided atomic fountain by using a blue-detuned cylindrical HLB. An HLB was generated from a micron-sized hollow optical fiber and collimated by the objective lens and propagates downwards to the center of a magneto-optical trap (MOT). We have demonstrated tenfold enhancement of the atom-funneling efficiency for the HLB-guided atomic fountain, which may lead to improved performance of atom optical experiments based on the atomic fountain such as the Rb atomic clock.

Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference•Nov 13, 2002•1 citation
Summary form only given. Cold atoms are expected to be applied to experiments on quantum motion, topological phenomena, cavity QED, and so on. Most of the interesting experiments require precise control on atomic motion. We have proposed the atomic waveguide by evanescent waves to enable the precise one-dimensional manipulation of atoms. The atomic waveguide is composed of a cylindrical-core hollow fiber with a hollow diameter of a few microns. The attachment of a funnel for atoms should be effective in coupling atoms to the atomic waveguide. In this work we present a novel scheme of the atomic funnel based on the dipole force from evanescent waves. Compared to the 2D MOT funnel, the evanescent-wave funnel has a further advantage of acting as a gravitational trap.
We propose an atomic funnel consisting of a dark hollow, divergent laser beam and an evanescent light in a short micron-sized hollow optical fiber. The cold atoms extracted from a magneto-optical trap experience effective Sisyphus cooling in the dark hollow beam. We calculate the potential barriers for atomic guiding in the evanescent light and the dark hollow beam, and analyze the atomic losses during the guiding and funneling process. Our results show that the equilibrium three-dimensional root-mean-square momentum of about $4.5\ensuremath{\Elzxh}k$ (temperature $\ensuremath{\sim}2.5\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{K}$) and the funneling efficiency of about 95% could be obtained. A low-velocity, intense coherent atomic beam can be generated in this funnel scheme and its potential applications in atom optics are briefly discussed.
Atom guiding in an atomic funnel is very useful for many interesting atom optical experiments requiring the precise control of atomic motion. We have obtained a doughnut-shaped laser beam by coupling a Ti:sapphire laser into a hollow core optical fiber and collimating the output laser beam of the fiber with a microscope objective lens. Using such a doughnut-shaped laser beam [2 mm inner diameter and a 5 mm outer diameter at the trapping position (about 1m away from the objective lens)l, we have guided the trapped cold Rb atoms in the atomic funnel.
We propose an atomic funnel composed of an evanescent-light mirror produced in a conical hollow prism. The funneling of cold Rb atoms released from a magneto-optical trap is simulated in the scheme of the evanescent-light-induced Sisyphus cooling for compensating the heating by gravity. A geometric method of the conversion of a Gaussian light beam into a doughnut-shaped light beam suitable for the atomic funnel is also experimentally demonstrated by means of a double-cone prism. Under the assumption of a proper optical intensity distribution over the inner surface of a specific conical hollow prism, the Monte Carlo simulation including the van der Waals interaction shows that a half of the released Rb atoms can be collected and the mean temperature of the collected atoms is low enough for the application to be guided with a bent hollow optical fiber.
Summary form only given. Electromagnetic fields have been used extensively to manipulate and control atoms. Intersecting light beams are used to create standing waves that act as an optical lattice potential. Evanescent fields at a surface can be used as a mirror to reflect atoms scattering on the surface. Atoms can propagate inside a hollow core fiber provided that an evanescent surface field keeps the atoms away from the inner wall. These fields are used to move and locate atoms so that they can interact, interfere, and entangle. We have been examining the two color scheme with realistic integrated optical waveguide structures. In this presentation, we show that two-dimensional and three-dimensional trapping configurations can be achieved for real waveguide structures. We discuss the design features that must be addressed to implement optical structures for use in atom optics.
We report the recent progress of the experiments on guiding atoms by evanescent waves in micron-sized hollow optical fibers. The lateral manipulation accuracy is enhanced up to 1 micron with a large increase of more than 50 times on the guided atom flux. Moreover, the frequency tuning enables the fine control of the guided flux with a numerical accuracy of 10 atom/s. The atom-guidance scheme is applied to in-line isotope separation on rubidium atoms and measurement of the cavity quantum electrodynamic effect in a cylindrical dielectric. In addition, the feasibility of fabricating micron-sized structures with nanometric depth is discussed including the manipulation of a small number of laser-cooled atoms.
Summary form only given. The optical guidance of cold atoms by the hollow laser beam (HLB) with blue detuning has been well understood experimentally and theoretically (Xinye Xu et al, 2000). Based on this clear understanding and the development of an efficient atomic guiding, we have performed the experiment of optically guided atomic fountain by using a blue-detuned cylindrical HLB. An HLB was generated from a micron-sized hollow optical fiber and collimated by the objective lens and propagates downwards to the center of a magneto-optical trap (MOT). We have demonstrated tenfold enhancement of the atom-funneling efficiency for the HLB-guided atomic fountain, which may lead to improved performance of atom optical experiments based on the atomic fountain such as the Rb atomic clock.