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Applied Physics Letters

Atoms on demand: Fast, deterministic production of single Cr atoms

Shannon B. Hill, Jabez J. McClelland

Published May 1, 2003• 45 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We have realized a method for producing single Cr atoms on demand by suppressing the stochastic nature of the loading and loss processes of a magneto-optic trap. We observe single-atom trap occupation probabilities as high as (98.7±0.1)% and demonstrate ejection with greater than 90% efficiency at rates up to 10 Hz. Monte Carlo simulations agree well with extraction measurements and are used to predict ultimate performance. Such a deterministic atom source has potential applications in nanotechnology, quantum information processing, and fundamental quantum investigations.

DOI
10.1063/1.1572539

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This Week in Science

The manipulation of single-quantum objects is a key requirement for the engineering of microscopic quantum systems. Applications such as single-atom micromasers (microwave lasers), triggered single-photon sources, or deterministic entanglement of atoms all require the ability to deliver single atoms on demand to a desired location. The trapping and manipulation of atoms as neutral species is more challenging than for charged ions because of the weak interaction of neutral species with electromagnetic fields. Kuhr et al. (p. 278) have overcome these difficulties by combining magneto-optical trapping and optical-trapping techniques. They demonstrate the precision transport of single neutral cesium atoms over distances of 1 centimeter and the ejection of single atoms into free flight.

Science•Jul 13, 2001•1 citation
We have realized a method for producing single Cr atoms on demand by suppressing the stochastic nature of the loading and loss processes of a magneto-optic trap. We observe single-atom trap occupation probabilities as high as (98.7±0.1)% and demonstrate ejection with greater than 90% efficiency at rates up to 10 Hz. Monte Carlo simulations agree well with extraction measurements and are used to predict ultimate performance. Such a deterministic atom source has potential applications in nanotechnology, quantum information processing, and fundamental quantum investigations.
A magneto-optical trap with feedback-controlled loading and loss rates is used to realize a deterministic source of single chromium atoms with single-atom occupation probability as high as 0.987±0.001. We present a series of measurements of the performance of this source and discuss the dependence of the probability of not having a single atom in the trap (error rate) on experimental parameters. We describe a simple analytical model that considers mean load rate, trap lifetime, stray load rate, and feedback response time, and we also present results of Monte Carlo calculations that take into account all experimental conditions. We find that the analytical model describes the behavior well for error rates as small as about 0.03, but the Monte Carlo simulations must be used to model behavior at error rates lower than this, as the occupation probability approaches unity.
We report the realization of a deterministic source of single atoms. A standing-wave dipole trap is loaded with one or any desired number of cold cesium atoms from a magneto-optical trap. By controlling the motion of the standing wave, we adiabatically transport the atom with submicrometer precision over macroscopic distances on the order of a centimeter. The displaced atom is observed directly in the dipole trap by fluorescence detection. The trapping field can also be accelerated to eject a single atom into free flight with well-defined velocities.
Reconfigurable arrays of trapped single atoms are an excellent platform for the simulation of many-body physics and the realisation of high-fidelity quantum gates. The confinement of atoms is often achieved with focussed laser beams acting as optical dipole-force traps that allow for both static and dynamic positioning of atoms. In these traps, light-assisted collisions -- enhancing the two-atom loss rate -- ensure that single atom occupation of traps can be realised. However, the time-averaged probability of trapping a single atom is limited to 0.50.50.5 when loading directly from a surrounding cloud of laser-cooled atoms, preventing deterministic filling of large arrays. In this work, we demonstrate that increasing the depth of a static, optical dipole trap enables the transition from fast loading on a timescale of 2.1 2.1\,2.1s to an extended trap lifetime of 7.9 7.9\,7.9s. This method demonstrates an achievable filling ratio of (79±2) %(79\pm2)\,\%(79±2)% without the need of rearranging atoms to fill vacant traps.
A single cesium atom trapped within the mode of an optical cavity is used to generate single photons on demand. The photon wave packets are emitted as a Gaussian beam with temporal profile and repetition rate controlled by external driving fields. Each generation attempt is inferred to succeed with a probability near unity, whereas the efficiency for creating an unpolarized photon in the total cavity output is 0.69 +/- 0.10, as limited by passive cavity losses. An average of 1.4 x 10(4) photons are produced by each trapped atom. These results constitute an important step in quantum information science, for example, toward the realization of distributed quantum networking.
The manipulation of single-quantum objects is a key requirement for the engineering of microscopic quantum systems. Applications such as single-atom micromasers (microwave lasers), triggered single-photon sources, or deterministic entanglement of atoms all require the ability to deliver single atoms on demand to a desired location. The trapping and manipulation of atoms as neutral species is more challenging than for charged ions because of the weak interaction of neutral species with electromagnetic fields. Kuhr et al. (p. 278) have overcome these difficulties by combining magneto-optical trapping and optical-trapping techniques. They demonstrate the precision transport of single neutral cesium atoms over distances of 1 centimeter and the ejection of single atoms into free flight.