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Synthesis and Thermodynamics of Tapered Optical Nanofibers

Anderson, Paul

Published Mar 15, 2018• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

This thesis pertains to the synthesis and use of tapered nanofibers (TNF) in quantum optics experiments. TNFs are optical fibers which contain a region radially tapering down to a submicron diameter. The key feature of such fibers is that a significant portion of an internally propagating electromagnetic field is just outside the fiber in the form of an evanescent field. TNFs are used to substantially improve light-matter interactions by providing a constant small focus of light along millimeters or centimeters of length. Here we report the successful synthesis of a low-loss TNF of custom geometry both theoretically and experimentally. Additionally, we study the thermodynamics of such fibers, demonstrating the ability to measure their temperature resulting from a coupled laser. Finally, we demonstrate the ability to recover lost transmission, due to atoms adsorbed on the fiber's surface. We conclude with an outlook on future experiments with TNFs.

DOI
10.11575/prism/31741

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This thesis pertains to the synthesis and use of tapered nanofibers (TNF) in quantum optics experiments. TNFs are optical fibers which contain a region radially tapering down to a submicron diameter. The key feature of such fibers is that a significant portion of an internally propagating electromagnetic field is just outside the fiber in the form of an evanescent field. TNFs are used to substantially improve light-matter interactions by providing a constant small focus of light along millimeters or centimeters of length. Here we report the successful synthesis of a low-loss TNF of custom geometry both theoretically and experimentally. Additionally, we study the thermodynamics of such fibers, demonstrating the ability to measure their temperature resulting from a coupled laser. Finally, we demonstrate the ability to recover lost transmission, due to atoms adsorbed on the fiber's surface. We conclude with an outlook on future experiments with TNFs.
In this thesis I present a developing project to elaborate a scientific platform towards the realization of light-matter interaction based on tapered optical nanofiber (TNF) that enables optical fields to interface with trapped neutral atoms in their vicinity. In such a configuration, the guided light exhibits a large portion of evanescent field into the vacuum thus laser cooled atoms can couple to the fiber mode. By trapping and cooling atoms around the nanofiber I investigated the interaction of the atoms with the field. My work presented in this thesis includes: Calculating the evanescent modes propagating through our fiber; Implementing fiber pulling setup using oxyhydrogen flame and analyzing nanofiber’s thermal dynamics and degradation; Constructing a Rubidium 87 MOT and characterizing its critical parameters; Realizing some atom-light interface through an experiment on coupling spontaneously emitted photons from MOT into TNF; Calculating two-color dipole trap parameters for our nanofiber.
This project aims to develop scientific as well as technical foundations towards realization of a novel platform for light-matter interaction based on tapered optical nanofibers that enable to interface neutral atoms in their vicinity. A setup for magneto-optical trap (MOT) has been built. Tapered nanofibers (TNFs) of sub-wavelength diameter, with transmission of 95 percent have been fabricated and characterized. Next, a nanofiber is transferred into the MOT setup and installed inside the vacuum chamber. The MOT cloud and nanofiber are made to spatially overlap inside ultra-high vacuum (UHV). Coupling of fluorescence of MOT into the guided mode of TNF has been observed. This clearly shows the coupling of atoms with the fiber-guided mode and that our interface works. In addition, 65-70 percent absorption of a free space beam by the atomic cloud has been observed and the relevant MOT parameters are obtained from it. Our efforts are directed towards observing interaction of atoms with the fiber-guided light via evanescent field. Attempts have been made to observe absorption of a probe beam through the nanofiber by the MOT cloud and techniques for switching on-off the MOT beams, the probe beam and the magnetic field are developed for that purpose. Ultimately, the goal will be to trap atoms in the vicinity of a nanofiber enabling to reach a large optical depth accompanied by the ability to reach high intensities for low optical power. I will present my work on the development of this MOT-nanofiber interface - a new promising platform for research in nonlinear quantum optics, quantum information science and technology, quantum communication and hybrid quantum system.
Tapered optical fiber with subwavelength diameter waist, an optical nanofiber, provides a unique and versatile platform for manipulating atoms and photons. In the guided modes of the nanofibers, the optical field can be tightly confined in the transverse direction while enabling strong interaction with the surrounding medium in the evanescent region. Combining laser-cooled atoms with nanofibers has enabled surprising quantum optics experiments, e.g. the efficient channeling of emission from single atoms into the fiber-guided modes, spectroscopy of near-surface atoms, high optical depth with an array of atoms optically trapped around the nanofiber, atomic memories and Bragg reflectors for fiber-guided photons, chiral light-matter interaction etc. In addition, using moderate longitudinal confinement in nanofiber cavities has enabled strong coupling between a single atom and fiber-guided photons. In this article, I review some of the key experimental demonstrations on the “atom＋nanofiber” platform.
Optical micro- and nanofibers have recently gained popularity as tools in quantum engineering using laser-cooled, neutral atoms. In particular, atoms can be trapped around such optical fibers, and photons coupled into the fibers from the surrounding atoms could be used to transfer quantum state information within the system. It has also been demonstrated that such fibers can be used to manipulate and trap silica and polystyrene particles in the 1-3 μm range. We recently proposed using a focused ion beam nanostructured tapered optical fiber for improved atom trapping geometries1. Here, we present details on the design and fabrication of these nanostructured optical fibers and their integration into particle trapping platforms for the demonstration of submicron particle trapping. The optical fibers are tapered to approximately 1-2 μm waist diameters, using a custom-built, heat-and-pull fiber rig, prior to processing using a focused ion beam. Slots of about 300 nm in width and 10-20 μm in length are milled right though the waist regions of the tapered optical fibers. Details on the fabrication steeps necessary to ensure high optical transmission though the fiber post processing are included. Fiber transmissions of over 80% over a broad range of wavelengths, in the 700-11100 nm range, are attainable. We also present simulation results on the impact of varying the slot parameters on the trap depths achievable and milling multiple traps within a single tapered fiber. This work demonstrates even further the functionality of optical micro- and nanofibers as trapping devices across a range of regimes.
We describe theoretically a setup in which a tapered optical nanofiber is introduced into an optical lattice potential for cold atoms. First, we consider the disturbance to the geometry of the lattice potential due to scattering of the lattice lasers from the dielectric fiber surface and show that the resulting distortion to the lattice can be minimized by placing the fiber at an appropriate position in the lattice. We then calculate the modifications of the local potentials that are achievable by transmitting off-resonant light through the fiber. The availability of such a technique holds the potential to deterministically create and address small well-defined samples of atoms in the evanescent field of the tapered nanofiber.
Optical nanofibers – very thin, tapered optical fibers where the waist diameter is less than the propagating light wavelength – have been shown to be very useful tools for atom-light interactions. Their small size and relative ease of integration into optical fiber-based experimental setups, in addition to their minimal perturbation on magneto-optically trapped cold atoms, have ensured their adoption into cold atom physics. Here, we will discuss some recent applications of optical nanofibers to manipulate, trap, and control cold 87Rb atoms in ground or Rydberg states. We will present some recent experimental and theoretical results related to the interactions between the atoms and the optical nanofiber field and introduce some of the limitations observed.