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

Frontiers in Optics

From a Single Photon Source to a Single Ion Laser

François Dubin, Carlos Russo, H. G. Barros, Andreas Stute, Piet O. Schmidt, R. Blatt

Published Jan 1, 2008• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We study experimentally a single Ca+ ion trapped in a high finesse cavity. In first experiments, we vary the strength of an external continuous excitation and we observe distinct statistical responses: At low external pumping our single-ion device behaves as a quantum laser free of threshold, while for large external pumping it exhibits a laser threshold. We also present experiments under pulsed external excitation where the single-ion device is turned into an efficient source of single photons.

DOI
10.1364/fio.2008.fmh3

Related papers

A single photon source based on a single Ca+ ion

Christoph Becher, Christian Maurer, Carlos Russo +4 more

We propose a source of single photons based on the stimulated Raman transition of a single Ca+ ion trapped inside a high finesse optical cavity. Assuming realistic experimental parameters the photon emission efficiency reaches 95%.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Jan 1, 2004•3 citations

A single-photon source based on a single Ca+ion

Christian Maurer, Christoph Becher, Carlos Russo +2 more

We propose a deterministic source of single photons based on the vacuum-stimulated Raman transition of a single Ca + ion trapped inside a high finesse cavity. Assuming realistic experimental parameters, the efficiency of photon emission into the cavity mode reaches 95%.

New Journal of Physics•Jul 30, 2004•55 citations

A calcium ion in a cavity as a controlled single-photon source

Matthias Keller, Birgit Lange, K. Hayasaka +2 more

We present a single calcium ion, coupled to a high-finesse cavity, as an almost ideal system for the controlled generation of single photons. Photons from a pump beam are Raman-scattered by the ion into the cavity mode, which subsequently emits the photon into a well-defined output channel. In contrast with comparable atomic systems, the ion is localized at a fixed position in the cavity mode for indefinite times, enabling truly continuous operation of the device. We have performed numeric calculations to assess the performance of the system and present the first experimental indication of single-photon emission in our set-up.

New Journal of Physics•Jul 30, 2004•85 citations

Controlled single photon pulses from an ion-cavity system

Matthias Keller, Birgit Lange, Wolfgang Lange +2 more

A single 40Ca+-ion, localized in a high finesse optical cavity, is an ideal source of single photons, triggered by an external pump pulse. The photons are delivered with high effiency to a Gaussian output mode.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Jan 1, 2004•0 citations

Ion-trap laser

Georg M. Meyer, H. J. Briegel, HERBERT WALTHER

Laser operation with a single trapped Ca + ion in a high-finesse optical cavity is predicted at a wavelength of 866 nm. Different from a conventional laser, the formation of two thresholds can be observed. For both small and large pump strengths the field is quasi-thermal, in an intermediate region laser light with Poissonian and even sub-Poissonian statistics is produced. Atomic coherence effects play an important role. The multi-level system is treated by generalizing the pump-operator approach ( Europhys. Lett. , 33 (1996) 515).

Europhysics Letters (EPL)•Feb 10, 1997•97 citations

Coherent coupling of a single Ca/sup +/ ion to a high finesse optical cavity field

Christoph Becher, Axel Kreuter, A.B. Mundt +6 more

Two experiments are performed to investigate the coherent interaction of a single Ca/sup +/ ion and a cavity field: first, Rabi oscillations are excited with short resonant laser pulses injected into the cavity, and second, change of the spontaneous emission rate are measured from the metastable D/sub 5/2 /level due to the cavity-enhanced vacuum field.

European Quantum Electronics Conference (EQEC)•Jan 1, 2003•0 citations
We study experimentally a single Ca+ ion trapped in a high finesse cavity. In first experiments, we vary the strength of an external continuous excitation and we observe distinct statistical responses: At low external pumping our single-ion device behaves as a quantum laser free of threshold, while for large external pumping it exhibits a laser threshold. We also present experiments under pulsed external excitation where the single-ion device is turned into an efficient source of single photons.
We present a single calcium ion, coupled to a high-finesse cavity, as an almost ideal system for the controlled generation of single photons. Photons from a pump beam are Raman-scattered by the ion into the cavity mode, which subsequently emits the photon into a well-defined output channel. In contrast with comparable atomic systems, the ion is localized at a fixed position in the cavity mode for indefinite times, enabling truly continuous operation of the device. We have performed numeric calculations to assess the performance of the system and present the first experimental indication of single-photon emission in our set-up.
Laser operation with a single trapped Ca + ion in a high-finesse optical cavity is predicted at a wavelength of 866 nm. Different from a conventional laser, the formation of two thresholds can be observed. For both small and large pump strengths the field is quasi-thermal, in an intermediate region laser light with Poissonian and even sub-Poissonian statistics is produced. Atomic coherence effects play an important role. The multi-level system is treated by generalizing the pump-operator approach ( Europhys. Lett. , 33 (1996) 515).