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Simulations of atomic trajectories near a dielectric surface

N. P. Stern, D. J. Alton, H. J. Kimble

Published Jan 1, 2011• 13 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

Abstract. We present a semiclassical model of an atom moving in the evanescent field of a microtoroidal resonator. Atoms falling through whispering-gallery modes can achieve strong, coherent coupling with the cavity at distances of approximately 100 nanometers from the surface; in this regime, surface-induced Casmir-Polder level shifts become significant for atomic motion and detection. Atomic transit events detected in recent experiments are analyzed with our simulation, which is extended to consider atom trapping in the evanescent field of a microtoroid.

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Simulations of atomic trajectories near a dielectric surface

N P Stern, D J Alton, H J Kimble

We present a semiclassical model of an atom moving in the evanescent field of a microtoroidal resonator. Atoms falling through whispering-gallery modes can achieve strong, coherent coupling with the cavity at distances of approximately 100 nm from the surface; in this regime, surface-induced Casmir–Polder level shifts become significant for atomic motion and detection. Atomic transit events detected in recent experiments are analyzed with our simulation, which is extended to consider atom trapping in the evanescent field of a microtoroid.

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We propose a scheme for simultaneously trapping and detecting single atoms near the surface of a substrate using whispering gallery modes of a microdisk resonator. For efficient atom-mode coupling, the atom should be placed within approximately $150\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$ from the disk. We show that a combination of red and blue detuned modes can form an optical trap at such distances while the backaction of the atom on the field modes can simultaneously be used for atom detection. We investigate these trapping potentials including van-der-Waals and Casimir-Polder forces and discuss corresponding atom detection efficiencies, depending on a variety of system parameters. Finally, we analyze the feasibility of nondestructive detection.

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Cold-atom fountain for atom-surface interaction measurements mediated by a near-resonant evanescent light field

Taro Mashimo, Masashi Abe, Athanasios Laliotis +1 more

Cold atomic ensembles offer precise tools for probing near-field interactions, yet experimental data linking atom dynamics to surface-induced forces remains limited. This study investigated the interaction between atoms and a dielectric surface using an atomic fountain measurement technique, in which cold rubidium atoms were released from a moving optical dipole trap. The launched cold atoms were irradiated with an evanescent light detuned from the D$_2$ transition by $-$20.2 to $+$20.2 MHz, after which they were recaptured by reactivating the optical dipole trap. Our measurements revealed that the number of recaptured atoms decreased with increasing flight time, and the decay was suppressed under blue-detuned conditions. We modeled the motion dynamics of the cold atomic ensemble, incorporating Casimir-Polder interactions between the dielectric surface and cold atoms, and observed that the rate of decrease in the number of residual atoms depended on the value of the van der Waals potential coefficient $C_3$. The calculation results demonstrated good agreement with the experimental results, allowing us to estimate $C_3 = 5.6^{+2.4}_{-1.9} \times 10^{-49}$ Jm$^3$ by comparing simulations with the experimental results across various $C_3$ values, accounting for experimental errors.

arXiv:2511.08115•Nov 11, 2025•0 citations
Abstract. We present a semiclassical model of an atom moving in the evanescent field of a microtoroidal resonator. Atoms falling through whispering-gallery modes can achieve strong, coherent coupling with the cavity at distances of approximately 100 nanometers from the surface; in this regime, surface-induced Casmir-Polder level shifts become significant for atomic motion and detection. Atomic transit events detected in recent experiments are analyzed with our simulation, which is extended to consider atom trapping in the evanescent field of a microtoroid.
We present a semiclassical model of an atom moving in the evanescent field of a microtoroidal resonator. Atoms falling through whispering-gallery modes can achieve strong, coherent coupling with the cavity at distances of approximately 100 nm from the surface; in this regime, surface-induced Casmir–Polder level shifts become significant for atomic motion and detection. Atomic transit events detected in recent experiments are analyzed with our simulation, which is extended to consider atom trapping in the evanescent field of a microtoroid.
Whispering gallery modes of a microdisk resonator are useful for the optical detection of single rubidium and cesium atoms near the surface of a substrate. Light is coupled into two high-Q whispering-gallery modes of the disk which can provide attractive and/or repulsive potentials, respectively, via their evanescent fields. The sum potential, including van der Waals/Casimir-Polder surface forces, may be tuned to exhibit a minimum at distances on the order of 100 nm from the disk surface. Simultaneously optically trapping and detecting is possible, with the back-action of an atom held in this trap on the light fields being suffciently strong to provide a measurable effect. Atom trapping and detection depend on a variety of system parameters and experimental realizations differ for different atoms.
We investigate simultaneous optical trapping and optical detection of a single Rb atom near the surface of a toroidal microdisk. Light is coupled into two high-Q whispering-gallery modes of the disk which provide attractive and repulsive potentials, respectively, via their evanescent fields. The sum potential including van-der-Waals and Casimir-Polder surface forces exhibits a minimum at distances of the order of 100 nm from the disk surface. The back-action of an atom held in this trap on the light fields is sufficiently strong to provide a measurable effect. We discuss atom trapping and detection properties in dependence on a variety of system parameters.
We investigate the possibility of using dielectric microdisk resonators for the optical detection of single atoms trapped and cooled in magnetic microtraps near the surface of a substrate. The bound and evanescent fields of optical whispering-gallery modes are calculated and the coupling to straight waveguides is investigated using finite-difference time domain solutions of Maxwell's equations. Results are compared with semianalytical solutions based on coupled mode theory. We discuss atom detection efficiencies and the feasibility of nondestructive measurements in such a system depending on key parameters such as disk size, disk-waveguide coupling, and scattering losses.
We propose a scheme for simultaneously trapping and detecting single atoms near the surface of a substrate using whispering gallery modes of a microdisk resonator. For efficient atom-mode coupling, the atom should be placed within approximately 150nm150\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}150nm from the disk. We show that a combination of red and blue detuned modes can form an optical trap at such distances while the backaction of the atom on the field modes can simultaneously be used for atom detection. We investigate these trapping potentials including van-der-Waals and Casimir-Polder forces and discuss corresponding atom detection efficiencies, depending on a variety of system parameters. Finally, we analyze the feasibility of nondestructive detection.
Cold atomic ensembles offer precise tools for probing near-field interactions, yet experimental data linking atom dynamics to surface-induced forces remains limited. This study investigated the interaction between atoms and a dielectric surface using an atomic fountain measurement technique, in which cold rubidium atoms were released from a moving optical dipole trap. The launched cold atoms were irradiated with an evanescent light detuned from the D2_22​ transition by $-$20.2 to $+$20.2 MHz, after which they were recaptured by reactivating the optical dipole trap. Our measurements revealed that the number of recaptured atoms decreased with increasing flight time, and the decay was suppressed under blue-detuned conditions. We modeled the motion dynamics of the cold atomic ensemble, incorporating Casimir-Polder interactions between the dielectric surface and cold atoms, and observed that the rate of decrease in the number of residual atoms depended on the value of the van der Waals potential coefficient C3C_3C3​. The calculation results demonstrated good agreement with the experimental results, allowing us to estimate C3=5.6−1.9+2.4×10−49C_3 = 5.6^{+2.4}_{-1.9} \times 10^{-49}C3​=5.6−1.9+2.4​×10−49 Jm3^33 by comparing simulations with the experimental results across various C3C_3C3​ values, accounting for experimental errors.