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

Physical Review A

Role of standing-wave mode structure in microlaser emission

Kyungwon An, Michael S. Feld

Published Aug 1, 1995• 15 citations
Publisher

Abstract

In the recently developed microlaser, a single two-level atom interacts with a single mode of the optical resonator to generate coherent radiation. The resonator mode is in the form of a standing wave. We present an analysis of the standing-wave features, based on an approximate solution of the fully quantized microlaser equations. The result explains the rapid increase in the observed signal when the average number of atoms in the cavity is of the order of 1.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.52.1691

Related papers

Microlaser: a fundamental quantum generator of light

Kyungwon An, Ramachandra Rao Dasari, Michael S. Feld

We have achieved the first realization of a single atom microlaser, a laser oscillator with only one atom in an optical resonator. In the experiment a beam of two-level barium atoms traverses an ultrahigh Q single-mode cavity. The atoms are inverted by a (pi) -pulse field before they enter the cavity. Laser oscillation ((lambda) equals 791 nm) has been observed, with the mean number of atoms inside the mode <N> as small as 0.1, resulting in the mean number of photons in the mode <N> or 0.14. To understand the results quantitatively we used a fully-quantized one-atom microlaser theory adapted from its counterpart micromaser theory. The present theory was found to be in good agreement with the data for small <N> and <n>. Discrepancy between experiment and theory was observed for <n> very much greater than 1 and <N> approximately equal to 1. This discrepancy may be explained by the standing-wave nature of the cavity mode, in combination with the saturation effect occurring at large cavity photon number, as well as by the breakdown of single-atom interaction assumption in the theory for <N> greater than or equal to 1.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•May 6, 1996•2 citations

The single atom laser: a quantized Rabi oscillator

Kyungwon An, Changhuei Yang, Ramachandra Rao Dasari +1 more

Summary form only given. We have recently developed the first working single-atom microlaser in which coherent light is generated by means of the interaction of a single two-level atom with a single mode of the radiation field. The photon generation process follows the Jaynes-Cummings model, and photon buildup is initiated by vacuum Rabi oscillations, not by spontaneous emission as in conventional lasers. We measured the mean photon number in the cavity (n) as a function of the average number of atoms present there . Laser oscillation was observed with as small as 0.1, resulting in (n) of 0.1.

•Jun 7, 1996•0 citations

Influence of Atomic Motion on a Microlaser in an Optical Standing-Wave Cavity

Jingtao Zhang, Feng Xun-Li, Zhang Wen-Qi +1 more

We study the microlaser in an optical standing-wave cavity injected with two-level atoms. The results have shown the obvious influence of atomic centre-of-mass motion on the microlaser, such as the photon distribution, the linewidth and the frequency shift. It was found that when the momentum of atoms is comparable to that of photons, the influence of atomic motion is dominated and the number of photons in the microlaser can be greatly enhanced, owing to part of the atomic kinetic energy being transferred to the resonator. This work provides a comparison of the related studies on the atomic motion under special assumptions.

Chinese Physics Letters•Apr 18, 2002•4 citations

Microlaser: A laser with One Atom in an Optical Resonator

Kyungwon An, James Childs, Ramachandra Rao Dasari +1 more

We have demonstrated laser oscillation with one atom in an optical resonator. In our experiment a beam of $^{138}\mathrm{Ba}$ atoms traverses a single-mode cavity with a finesse of 8 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{5}$. The atoms are excited by a $\ensuremath{\pi}$ pulse from the $^{1}S_{0}$ ground state to the $^{3}P_{1}(m=0)$ excited state before they enter the cavity. Laser oscillation at 791 nm ($^{3}P_{1}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{1}S_{0}$) has been observed, with the mean number of atoms inside the mode ranging from 0.1 to 1.0, resulting in the mean number of photons inside the cavity changing from 0.14 to 11. The results are in good agreement with a fully quantized micromaser theory adapted to our experiment.

Physical Review Letters•Dec 19, 1994•283 citations

Quantum theory of a micromaser operating on the atomic scattering from a resonant standing wave

Farhan Saif, Fam Le Kien, Muhammad Suhail Zubairy

We study the amplification of a resonant standing-wave light field due to the interaction with a beam of monovelocity two-level atoms moving in the Raman-Nath regime and in the Bragg regime. The atomic density is low so that, at most, one atom is inside the cavity at a time. This system is very similar to the well-known micromaser but it is operating in the optical region of the field frequencies. Therefore, the situation corresponds to a microlaser. Unlike the micromaser system, the momentum transfer between the atoms and photons in the microlaser essentially effects the center-of-mass motion of the atoms and the evolution of the field.

Physical Review A•Sep 18, 2001•13 citations

Enhancement of spontaneous and stimulated emission in the microlaser by standing-wave resonant excitation

F. De Martini, Luca Crescentini, Paolo Mataloni

By a new method of momentum–space excitation an increase of the spontaneous emission rate and a large reduction of the microlaser threshold are obtained. The method is demonstrated by an optically excited micro-laser filled with europium atoms. The method is general and may be extended to active cavities with any dimension and geometry. Our results on spontaneous emission are interpreted as a demonstration of the first-order interference of the vacuum field.

Optics Letters•Oct 1, 1992•10 citations
In the recently developed microlaser, a single two-level atom interacts with a single mode of the optical resonator to generate coherent radiation. The resonator mode is in the form of a standing wave. We present an analysis of the standing-wave features, based on an approximate solution of the fully quantized microlaser equations. The result explains the rapid increase in the observed signal when the average number of atoms in the cavity is of the order of 1.
We have achieved the first realization of a single atom microlaser, a laser oscillator with only one atom in an optical resonator. In the experiment a beam of two-level barium atoms traverses an ultrahigh Q single-mode cavity. The atoms are inverted by a (pi) -pulse field before they enter the cavity. Laser oscillation ((lambda) equals 791 nm) has been observed, with the mean number of atoms inside the mode <N> as small as 0.1, resulting in the mean number of photons in the mode <N> or 0.14. To understand the results quantitatively we used a fully-quantized one-atom microlaser theory adapted from its counterpart micromaser theory. The present theory was found to be in good agreement with the data for small <N> and <n>. Discrepancy between experiment and theory was observed for <n> very much greater than 1 and <N> approximately equal to 1. This discrepancy may be explained by the standing-wave nature of the cavity mode, in combination with the saturation effect occurring at large cavity photon number, as well as by the breakdown of single-atom interaction assumption in the theory for <N> greater than or equal to 1.
Summary form only given. We have recently developed the first working single-atom microlaser in which coherent light is generated by means of the interaction of a single two-level atom with a single mode of the radiation field. The photon generation process follows the Jaynes-Cummings model, and photon buildup is initiated by vacuum Rabi oscillations, not by spontaneous emission as in conventional lasers. We measured the mean photon number in the cavity (n) as a function of the average number of atoms present there . Laser oscillation was observed with as small as 0.1, resulting in (n) of 0.1.
We study the microlaser in an optical standing-wave cavity injected with two-level atoms. The results have shown the obvious influence of atomic centre-of-mass motion on the microlaser, such as the photon distribution, the linewidth and the frequency shift. It was found that when the momentum of atoms is comparable to that of photons, the influence of atomic motion is dominated and the number of photons in the microlaser can be greatly enhanced, owing to part of the atomic kinetic energy being transferred to the resonator. This work provides a comparison of the related studies on the atomic motion under special assumptions.
We have demonstrated laser oscillation with one atom in an optical resonator. In our experiment a beam of 138Ba^{138}\mathrm{Ba}138Ba atoms traverses a single-mode cavity with a finesse of 8 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} 105{10}^{5}105. The atoms are excited by a $\ensuremath{\pi}$ pulse from the 1S0^{1}S_{0}1S0​ ground state to the 3P1(m=0)^{3}P_{1}(m=0)3P1​(m=0) excited state before they enter the cavity. Laser oscillation at 791 nm ($^{3}P_{1}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{1}S_{0}$) has been observed, with the mean number of atoms inside the mode ranging from 0.1 to 1.0, resulting in the mean number of photons inside the cavity changing from 0.14 to 11. The results are in good agreement with a fully quantized micromaser theory adapted to our experiment.
We study the amplification of a resonant standing-wave light field due to the interaction with a beam of monovelocity two-level atoms moving in the Raman-Nath regime and in the Bragg regime. The atomic density is low so that, at most, one atom is inside the cavity at a time. This system is very similar to the well-known micromaser but it is operating in the optical region of the field frequencies. Therefore, the situation corresponds to a microlaser. Unlike the micromaser system, the momentum transfer between the atoms and photons in the microlaser essentially effects the center-of-mass motion of the atoms and the evolution of the field.