Fluorescence from Cs atoms in a magneto-optical trap is detected under conditions of very low atomic density. Discrete steps are observed in the fluorescent signal versus time and are associated with the arrival and departure of individual trapped atoms. Histograms of the frequency of occurrence of a given level of fluorescence exhibit a series of uniformly spaced peaks that are attributed to the presence of N = 0, 1, 2 atoms in the trap.

Optics LettersNov 15, 1994138 citations

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Anonymous

PhysicsOct 3, 20130 citations

APS

Discrete interferometer with individual trapped atoms

Andreas Steffen, Andrea Alberti, Wolfgang Alt, Noomen Belmechri, Sebastian J. Hild, Michał Karski, Artur Widera, Dieter Meschede

Published May 1, 2011• 0 citations

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{r}_{0}

from the trap minimum to the wire.