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Optical One-Way Barrier for Atoms

Elizabeth A. Schoene, Jeremy J. Thorn, Tao Li +1 more

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyMay 29, 20080 citations

Cold atom control with an optical one-way barrier

Elizabeth A. Schoene

Dec 1, 20101 citation

Experimental Realization of an Optical One-Way Barrier for Neutral Atoms

Jeremy J. Thorn, Elizabeth A. Schoene, Tao Li +1 more

We demonstrate an asymmetric optical potential barrier for ultracold 87Rb atoms using laser light tuned near the D2 optical transition. Such a one-way barrier, where atoms incident on one side are transmitted but reflected from the other, is a realization of Maxwell's demon and has important implications for cooling atoms and molecules not amenable to standard laser-cooling techniques. In our experiment, atoms are confined to a far-detuned dipole trap consisting of a single focused Gaussian beam, which is divided near the focus by the barrier. The one-way barrier consists of two focused laser beams oriented almost normal to the dipole-trap axis. The first beam is tuned to present either a potential well or barrier, depending on the state of the incident atoms. On the reflecting side of the barrier, the second beam optically pumps the atoms to the reflecting (barrier) state, thus producing the asymmetry.We demonstrate an asymmetric optical potential barrier for ultracold 87Rb atoms using laser light tuned near the D2 optical transition. Such a one-way barrier, where atoms incident on one side are transmitted but reflected from the other, is a realization of Maxwell's demon and has important implications for cooling atoms and molecules not amenable to standard laser-cooling techniques. In our experiment, atoms are confined to a far-detuned dipole trap consisting of a single focused Gaussian beam, which is divided near the focus by the barrier. The one-way barrier consists of two focused laser beams oriented almost normal to the dipole-trap axis. The first beam is tuned to present either a potential well or barrier, depending on the state of the incident atoms. On the reflecting side of the barrier, the second beam optically pumps the atoms to the reflecting (barrier) state, thus producing the asymmetry.

arXiv:0802.1585Physical Review LettersJun 20, 200893 citations

Dissipative Control and Imaging of Cold Atoms

Jeremy J. Thorn

We present an all-optical one-way barrier for cold rubidium 87 atoms. Along with the basic theory on how the barrier works, we describe the experimental setup and demonstrate an actual realization of the barrier. Such a barrier appears at first glance to violate the second law of thermodynamics; we examine that law and show explicitly that it is not violated for a general class of one-way barriers including our particular realization. As our lab is going to continue on to a different set of experiments requiring very sensitive imaging techniques, we finish with the development and application of a theory for comparing electron-multiplying charge-coupled device (EMCCD) cameras.We present an all-optical one-way barrier for cold rubidium 87 atoms. Along with the basic theory on how the barrier works, we describe the experimental setup and demonstrate an actual realization of the barrier. Such a barrier appears at first glance to violate the second law of thermodynamics; we examine that law and show explicitly that it is not violated for a general class of one-way barriers including our particular realization. As our lab is going to continue on to a different set of experiments requiring very sensitive imaging techniques, we finish with the development and application of a theory for comparing electron-multiplying charge-coupled device (EMCCD) cameras.

Jan 1, 20122 citations

Optical Traps for Neutral Atoms

Harold J. Metcalf, P. van der Straten

Graduate texts in contemporary physicsJan 1, 19992 citations

Supersymmetry-assisted high-fidelity ground-state preparation of a single neutral atom in an optical tweezer

Xi-Wang Luo, Mark G. Raizen, Chuanwei Zhang

Arrays of neutral-atom qubits in optical tweezers are a promising platform for quantum computation. Despite experimental progress, a major roadblock for realizing neutral-atom quantum computation is the qubit initialization. Here we propose that supersymmetry, a theoretical framework developed in particle physics, can be used for ultrahigh-fidelity initialization of neutral-atom qubits. We show that a single atom can be deterministically prepared in the vibrational ground state of an optical tweezer by adiabatically extracting all excited atoms to a supersymmetric auxiliary tweezer. The scheme works for both bosonic and fermionic atom qubits trapped in realistic Gaussian optical tweezers and may pave the way for realizing large-scale quantum computation, simulation, and information processing with neutral atoms.Arrays of neutral-atom qubits in optical tweezers are a promising platform for quantum computation. Despite experimental progress, a major roadblock for realizing neutral-atom quantum computation is the qubit initialization. Here we propose that supersymmetry, a theoretical framework developed in particle physics, can be used for ultrahigh-fidelity initialization of neutral-atom qubits. We show that a single atom can be deterministically prepared in the vibrational ground state of an optical tweezer by adiabatically extracting all excited atoms to a supersymmetric auxiliary tweezer. The scheme works for both bosonic and fermionic atom qubits trapped in realistic Gaussian optical tweezers and may pave the way for realizing large-scale quantum computation, simulation, and information processing with neutral atoms.

arXiv:1910.09154Physical Review AJan 19, 20213 citations

Experimental Realization of an Optical One-Way Barrier for Neutral Atoms

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