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

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)

Trapping and observing single atoms in the dark

Thomas Puppe, I. Schuster, A. Grothe, Alexander Kubanek, Karim Murr, Pepijn W. H. Pinkse, Gerhard Rempe

Published Jun 1, 2007• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

An experimental sample trace of a trapping event is presented85Rb atoms have been launched from an atomic fountain along the y-direction. Arming the trigger at 210 ms after launch selects atoms with velocities <0.1 m/s. Because the probe field is resonant with the empty cavity, single atoms cause a steep decrease in the transmission (3). The storage times (A-B) are of the order of a few 10 ms. The Stark shift as measured by normal-mode spectroscopy is much smaller than the trap height. In conclusion, we have realized a blue-detuned intracavity dipole trap, now allowing measurements in cavity QED while preserving the free-space properties of the atom.

DOI
10.1109/cleoe-iqec.2007.4386938

Related papers

Trapping and Observing Single Atoms in a Blue-Detuned Intracavity Dipole Trap

Thomas Puppe, I. Schuster, A. Grothe +4 more

A single atom strongly coupled to a cavity mode is stored by three-dimensional confinement in blue-detuned cavity modes of different longitudinal and transverse order. The vanishing light intensity at the trap center reduces the light shift of all atomic energy levels. This is exploited to detect a single atom by means of a dispersive measurement with 95% confidence in 10 micros, limited by the photon-detection efficiency. As the atom switches resonant cavity transmission into cavity reflection, the atom can be detected while scattering about one photon.

arXiv:quant-ph/0702162•Physical Review Letters•Jul 6, 2007•76 citations

Single atoms bound in orbit by single photons

Christina J. Hood, T. W. Lynn, Andrew C. Doherty +3 more

Two recent experiments are discussed which demonstrate real-time trapping and monitoring of single atoms within a high-finesse optical resonator. A single atom moving within the resonator generates large variations in the transmission of a weak probe laser, which are recorded in real time. These cavity QED signals are used to trigger ON a confining potential to trap the atom. In the first experiment, the confining potential is provided by the single-photon forces associated with the cavity QED interaction. An inversion algorithm allows individual atom trajectories to be reconstructed from the record of cavity transmission, and reveals single atoms bound in orbit by the mechanical forces associated with single photons. In a second experiment, an additional classical standing-wave dipole trap provides the trapping, enabling a 28 ms trap lifetime for single strongly coupled atoms.

Laser Physics•Jan 1, 2001•4 citations

Trapping single atoms with single photons

Gerhard Rempe, Thomas H. Fischer, P. Maunze +2 more

Summary form only given. The strong coupling between an atom and the light field in an optical microresonator causes a single atom to alter the transmission of the cavity significantly, allowing its continuous observation. At the same time, the strong coupling leads to novel optical forces acting on the atom. It was predicted that it should be possible to trap an atom with single intracavity photons. Using an atomic fountain, we inject single ultracold neutral atoms in the standing-wave light field of a high-finesse optical cavity. When an atom is detected in the cavity, the laser light pumping the cavity is suddenly switched to a higher value. This increases the depth of the optical dipole potential and traps the atom in the cavity field.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Aug 29, 2005•0 citations

Normal-mode spectroscopy of a single atom in an optical cavity.

Peter Maunz, Thomas Puppe, I. Schuster +3 more

Utilizing cavity cooling in an intracavity dipole trap the normal-mode spectrum of single atoms strongly coupled to a cavity is observed for the first time by both measuring cavity transmission and atomic excitation.

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

Comparison of single-neutral-atom qubit between in bright trap and in dark trap

Yali Tian, Zhi‐Hui Wang, Pengfei Yang +3 more

A single neutral atom is one of the most promising candidates to encode a quantum bit (qubit). In a real experiment, a single neutral atom is always confined in a micro-sized far off-resonant optical trap (FORT). There are generally two types of traps: red-detuned trap and blue-detuned trap. We experimentally compare the qubits encoded in “clock states” of single cesium atoms confined separately in either 1064-nm red-detuned (bright) trap or 780-nm blue-detuned (dark) trap: both traps have almost the same trap depth. A longer lifetime of 117 s and a longer coherence time of about 10 ms are achieved in the dark trap. This provides a direct proof of the superiority of the dark trap over the bright trap. The measures to further improve the coherence are discussed.

Chinese Physics B•Feb 1, 2019•5 citations

Real-time detection of single atoms with transverse mode of high-finesse optical micro cavity

Noritsugu Shiokawa, Y. Shimizu, Noriaki Yamamoto +3 more

Summary form only given. The strong atom-photon coupling generated inside high-finesse optical micro cavity lets us detect a single atom trajectory in real time. Such a strong coupling is a candidate for trapping a single atom with a single photon. Dynamics of trapped atoms can be observed in situ and in real time by detecting intensity change on the transmission of a blue-shifted laser beam. We cooled down and trapped rubidium atoms by using conventional cell magneto optical trap (MOT) and launched them into the micro optical cavity which locates 35 mm above the MOT. By using this signal as trigger and changing the laser frequency, it is, in principle, possible to trap the atom in the cavity.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Aug 29, 2005•0 citations
An experimental sample trace of a trapping event is presented85Rb atoms have been launched from an atomic fountain along the y-direction. Arming the trigger at 210 ms after launch selects atoms with velocities <0.1 m/s. Because the probe field is resonant with the empty cavity, single atoms cause a steep decrease in the transmission (3). The storage times (A-B) are of the order of a few 10 ms. The Stark shift as measured by normal-mode spectroscopy is much smaller than the trap height. In conclusion, we have realized a blue-detuned intracavity dipole trap, now allowing measurements in cavity QED while preserving the free-space properties of the atom.
A single atom strongly coupled to a cavity mode is stored by three-dimensional confinement in blue-detuned cavity modes of different longitudinal and transverse order. The vanishing light intensity at the trap center reduces the light shift of all atomic energy levels. This is exploited to detect a single atom by means of a dispersive measurement with 95% confidence in 10 micros, limited by the photon-detection efficiency. As the atom switches resonant cavity transmission into cavity reflection, the atom can be detected while scattering about one photon.
Two recent experiments are discussed which demonstrate real-time trapping and monitoring of single atoms within a high-finesse optical resonator. A single atom moving within the resonator generates large variations in the transmission of a weak probe laser, which are recorded in real time. These cavity QED signals are used to trigger ON a confining potential to trap the atom. In the first experiment, the confining potential is provided by the single-photon forces associated with the cavity QED interaction. An inversion algorithm allows individual atom trajectories to be reconstructed from the record of cavity transmission, and reveals single atoms bound in orbit by the mechanical forces associated with single photons. In a second experiment, an additional classical standing-wave dipole trap provides the trapping, enabling a 28 ms trap lifetime for single strongly coupled atoms.
Summary form only given. The strong coupling between an atom and the light field in an optical microresonator causes a single atom to alter the transmission of the cavity significantly, allowing its continuous observation. At the same time, the strong coupling leads to novel optical forces acting on the atom. It was predicted that it should be possible to trap an atom with single intracavity photons. Using an atomic fountain, we inject single ultracold neutral atoms in the standing-wave light field of a high-finesse optical cavity. When an atom is detected in the cavity, the laser light pumping the cavity is suddenly switched to a higher value. This increases the depth of the optical dipole potential and traps the atom in the cavity field.
A single neutral atom is one of the most promising candidates to encode a quantum bit (qubit). In a real experiment, a single neutral atom is always confined in a micro-sized far off-resonant optical trap (FORT). There are generally two types of traps: red-detuned trap and blue-detuned trap. We experimentally compare the qubits encoded in “clock states” of single cesium atoms confined separately in either 1064-nm red-detuned (bright) trap or 780-nm blue-detuned (dark) trap: both traps have almost the same trap depth. A longer lifetime of 117 s and a longer coherence time of about 10 ms are achieved in the dark trap. This provides a direct proof of the superiority of the dark trap over the bright trap. The measures to further improve the coherence are discussed.
Summary form only given. The strong atom-photon coupling generated inside high-finesse optical micro cavity lets us detect a single atom trajectory in real time. Such a strong coupling is a candidate for trapping a single atom with a single photon. Dynamics of trapped atoms can be observed in situ and in real time by detecting intensity change on the transmission of a blue-shifted laser beam. We cooled down and trapped rubidium atoms by using conventional cell magneto optical trap (MOT) and launched them into the micro optical cavity which locates 35 mm above the MOT. By using this signal as trigger and changing the laser frequency, it is, in principle, possible to trap the atom in the cavity.