Recent theoretical and experimental demonstrations have shown that blue-detuned laser light, propagating in the annular core-cladding region of a hollow-glass fiber, produces a repulsive, evanescent light-wave potential in the hollow that can be used to guide near-resonant atoms down the fiber.1–4 In this work I show that slight modifications to the hollow-fiber geometry can be used to turn this atom guide into an atom-bottle trap.5-6 The trap can be opened and shut by varying the aperture angle at which light couples into the fiber, allowing the atoms to be easily loaded. This trap has an advantage over other optical atom traps in that the atoms move coherently in a field-free region with only brief specular reflections at the step-like potential walls.Recent theoretical and experimental demonstrations have shown that blue-detuned laser light, propagating in the annular core-cladding region of a hollow-glass fiber, produces a repulsive, evanescent light-wave potential in the hollow that can be used to guide near-resonant atoms down the fiber.1–4 In this work I show that slight modifications to the hollow-fiber geometry can be used to turn this atom guide into an atom-bottle trap.5-6 The trap can be opened and shut by varying the aperture angle at which light couples into the fiber, allowing the atoms to be easily loaded. This trap has an advantage over other optical atom traps in that the atoms move coherently in a field-free region with only brief specular reflections at the step-like potential walls.

Quantum Electronics and Laser Science ConferenceMay 18, 19970 citations

Evanescent-wave guiding of atoms in hollow optical fibers

Michael J. Renn, Elizabeth A. Donley, Eric Cornell +2 more

We use evanescent laser light to guide atoms through hollow-core optical fibers. The light, detuned to the blue side of rubidium's ${D}_{2}$ resonance lines, is launched into the glass region of a hollow capillary fiber and guided through the fiber by total internal reflection from the glass walls. Atoms interacting with the evanescent component of the field are repelled from the wall and guided through the fiber hollow. A second laser tuned to the red side of resonance is used to initially inject the atoms into the evanescent guide. An optical intensity threshold for guiding is observed as the evanescent-field-induced dipole forces exceed the van der Waals forces.We use evanescent laser light to guide atoms through hollow-core optical fibers. The light, detuned to the blue side of rubidium's ${D}_{2}$ resonance lines, is launched into the glass region of a hollow capillary fiber and guided through the fiber by total internal reflection from the glass walls. Atoms interacting with the evanescent component of the field are repelled from the wall and guided through the fiber hollow. A second laser tuned to the red side of resonance is used to initially inject the atoms into the evanescent guide. An optical intensity threshold for guiding is observed as the evanescent-field-induced dipole forces exceed the van der Waals forces.

Physical Review AFeb 1, 1996148 citations

Laser-Guided Atoms in Hollow-Core Optical Fibers

Michael J. Renn, Don Montgomery, O. Vdovin +3 more

We have used optical forces to guide atoms through hollow-core optical fibers. Laser light is launched into the hollow region of a glass capillary fiber and guided by grazing-incidence reflection from the walls. When the laser is detuned 1--30 GHz red of the Rb D2 resonance lines, dipole forces attract atoms to the high-intensity region along the axis and guide them through the fiber. We show that atoms may be guided around bends in the fiber and that in initial experiments the atoms experience up to 18 reflections from the potential walls with minimal loss.We have used optical forces to guide atoms through hollow-core optical fibers. Laser light is launched into the hollow region of a glass capillary fiber and guided by grazing-incidence reflection from the walls. When the laser is detuned 1--30 GHz red of the Rb D2 resonance lines, dipole forces attract atoms to the high-intensity region along the axis and guide them through the fiber. We show that atoms may be guided around bends in the fiber and that in initial experiments the atoms experience up to 18 reflections from the potential walls with minimal loss.

Physical Review LettersOct 30, 1995307 citations

Guiding laser-cooled atoms in hollow-core fibers

Dirk Müller, Eric Cornell, Dana Z. Anderson +1 more

Laser-cooled atoms from a low-velocity atomic source are guided in a hollow-core optical fiber using the evanescent-wave dipole force from blue-detuned laser light launched into the glass region of the fiber. The transverse velocity of the guided atoms corresponds to a temperature of $50 \ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{K}.$ We achieve a maximum flux through a 23.5-cm-long fiber of 590 000 atoms/second with a laser power of 55 mWatts at a detuning of 6 GHz. With larger detunings of 40 GHz, spontaneous emission from the atoms inside the fiber can be suppressed and the atom's internal-state population is preserved. We identify two major loss mechanisms for the guiding process and discuss possible solutions.Laser-cooled atoms from a low-velocity atomic source are guided in a hollow-core optical fiber using the evanescent-wave dipole force from blue-detuned laser light launched into the glass region of the fiber. The transverse velocity of the guided atoms corresponds to a temperature of $50 \ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{K}.$ We achieve a maximum flux through a 23.5-cm-long fiber of 590 000 atoms/second with a laser power of 55 mWatts at a detuning of 6 GHz. With larger detunings of 40 GHz, spontaneous emission from the atoms inside the fiber can be suppressed and the atom's internal-state population is preserved. We identify two major loss mechanisms for the guiding process and discuss possible solutions.

Physical Review AFeb 15, 200048 citations

Atom hoses

D. Z. Anderson, Michael J. Renn, Elizabeth A. Donley +3 more

Summary form only given. We use optical dipole forces to guide neutral rubidium atoms through hollowcore optical fibers. In one configuration, light copropagates in the circular hollow region as a grazing incidence mode. Atoms are attracted to the high intensity region of a beam detuned to the red of rubidium's D2 resonance lines and are thus kept away from the fiber's walls. In a second configuration, light is guided in the annular glass region and it is the evanescent field of this light that repels the atoms from the fiber walls when the light is tuned to the blue side of atomic resonance.Summary form only given. We use optical dipole forces to guide neutral rubidium atoms through hollowcore optical fibers. In one configuration, light copropagates in the circular hollow region as a grazing incidence mode. Atoms are attracted to the high intensity region of a beam detuned to the red of rubidium's D2 resonance lines and are thus kept away from the fiber's walls. In a second configuration, light is guided in the annular glass region and it is the evanescent field of this light that repels the atoms from the fiber walls when the light is tuned to the blue side of atomic resonance.

Quantum Electronics and Laser Science ConferenceJan 1, 19960 citations

Trapping and manipulating atoms with guided evanescent fields

John Robert Burke, Sai-Tak Chu, Garnett W. Bryant +3 more

Summary form only given. Electromagnetic fields have been used extensively to manipulate and control atoms. Intersecting light beams are used to create standing waves that act as an optical lattice potential. Evanescent fields at a surface can be used as a mirror to reflect atoms scattering on the surface. Atoms can propagate inside a hollow core fiber provided that an evanescent surface field keeps the atoms away from the inner wall. These fields are used to move and locate atoms so that they can interact, interfere, and entangle. We have been examining the two color scheme with realistic integrated optical waveguide structures. In this presentation, we show that two-dimensional and three-dimensional trapping configurations can be achieved for real waveguide structures. We discuss the design features that must be addressed to implement optical structures for use in atom optics.Summary form only given. Electromagnetic fields have been used extensively to manipulate and control atoms. Intersecting light beams are used to create standing waves that act as an optical lattice potential. Evanescent fields at a surface can be used as a mirror to reflect atoms scattering on the surface. Atoms can propagate inside a hollow core fiber provided that an evanescent surface field keeps the atoms away from the inner wall. These fields are used to move and locate atoms so that they can interact, interfere, and entangle. We have been examining the two color scheme with realistic integrated optical waveguide structures. In this presentation, we show that two-dimensional and three-dimensional trapping configurations can be achieved for real waveguide structures. We discuss the design features that must be addressed to implement optical structures for use in atom optics.

Quantum Electronics and Laser Science ConferenceNov 13, 20021 citation

We use evanescent laser light to guide atoms through hollow-core optical fibers. The light, detuned to the blue side of rubidium's

{D}_{2}

resonance lines, is launched into the glass region of a hollow capillary fiber and guided through the fiber by total internal reflection from the glass walls. Atoms interacting with the evanescent component of the field are repelled from the wall and guided through the fiber hollow. A second laser tuned to the red side of resonance is used to initially inject the atoms into the evanescent guide. An optical intensity threshold for guiding is observed as the evanescent-field-induced dipole forces exceed the van der Waals forces.