Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Physical Review A

Photon antibunching as a probe of trajectory information of individual neutral atoms traversing an optical cavity

Zhiming Wu, Shu-Ting Shen, Jiahua Li, Ying Wu

Published Nov 17, 2021• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We present an alternative route to track the motion of a single atom traversing a high-finesse optical cavity by means of the coherence statistics of photon antibunching. Here the single atom strongly couples to the high-order transverse Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) mode (e.g., ${\text{LG}}_{01}$) of optical cavity, instead of the high-order transverse Hermite-Gaussian (HG) mode, which is beneficial to the single-atom trajectory measurement utilizing such a photon antibunching effect. With this aim, we characterize the position-dependent quantum correlations of the transmitted light in such a cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED) system subject to various kinds of the LG modes, finding that the photon antibunching effect is closely related to the position of the atom in the transverse plane and therefore the degree of the antibunching carries the information about the position of the atom within the cavity. The numerical results of the second-order correlation function agree well with the analytical calculations. Thanks to the tilted transverse ${\text{LG}}_{01}$ mode of the cavity, which is inclined to the vertical direction by an angle of $\ensuremath{\sim}{15}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}$, the LG-mode cavity QED architecture helps us to eliminate the degenerate trajectory of the single atom falling through the cavity and to obtain a unique atomic trajectory. In a $10\text{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{s}$-long time interval as an example, our in-depth analysis displays that the atomic position with the spatial resolution of $\ensuremath{\sim}4.0\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ in the vertical direction (axis $x$) can be achieved. The present study is useful for well understanding and researching both the robust generation of single-photon source and the precision measurement of single-atom trajectory.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.104.053710

Related papers

Elimination of the degenerate trajectory of a single atom strongly coupled to a tilted TEM 10 cavity mode

Pengfei Zhang, Yanqiang Guo, Zhuoheng Li +6 more

We demonstrate the trajectory measurement of the single neutral atoms deterministically using a high-finesse optical microcavity. The single atom strongly couples to the high-order transverse vacuum TEM${}_{10}$ mode, instead of the usual TEM${}_{00}$ mode, and the parameters of the system are $({g}_{10},\ensuremath{\kappa},\ensuremath{\gamma})=2\ensuremath{\pi}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}(20.5,2.6,2.6) \text{MHz}$. The atoms simply fall down freely from the magneto-optical trap into the cavity modes, and the trajectories of the single atoms are linear. The transmission spectra of atoms passing through the TEM${}_{10}$ mode are detected by single-photon counting modules and are well fitted. Thanks to the tilted cavity transverse TEM${}_{10}$ mode, which is inclined to the vertical direction $~$${45}^{\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}}$, it helps us to eliminate the degenerate trajectory of the single atom falling through the cavity and to obtain a unique atom trajectory. An atom position with a high precision of $0.1 \ensuremath{\mu}\text{m}$ in the off-axis direction (axis $y$) is obtained, and a spatial resolution of $5.6 \ensuremath{\mu}\text{m}$ is achieved in a time interval of $10 \ensuremath{\mu}\text{s}$ along the vertical direction (axis $x$). The average velocity of the atoms is also measured from the atom transits, which determines independently the temperature of the atoms in a magneto-optical trap, $186\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}19 \ensuremath{\mu}\text{K}$.

arXiv:1012.2156•Physical Review A•Mar 28, 2011•23 citations

Precision measurement of single-atom trajectories in higher-order Laguerre-Gaussian transverse modes of a Fabry-Perot cavity

Wang Yan-Na, Di Zhao, Fang Ai-ping +3 more

A coupled quantum system composed of cavity field and atoms is one of the main research contents of cavity quantum electrodynamics. It can be used to realize single atom manipulation and measurement, and has important significance for studying the interaction between light and the atom, preparing quantum states and quantum entanglement. Current research work mainly focuses on two aspects. One is to achieve the atom trapping via the feedback control of the trapping laser intensity. The other is to measure the single atomic motion in a Fabry-Perot cavity by using Hermite-Gaussian transverse modes. The detection of the atomic trajectories has been realized via the observation of transmission spectra of the strong coupling system composed of cold atoms and Hermite-Gaussian transverse modes in a Fabry-Perot cavity. In order to observe the atomic motion trajectories in the cavity, we theoretically study the transmission spectrum of a strong coupling system composed of cold atoms and Laguerre-Gaussian transverse modes in a Fabry-Perot cavity in this paper. We calculate the relationship between the coupling coefficient and the mode number of Laguerre-Gaussian transverse modes. The result shows that with the increase of Laguerre-Gaussian transverse mode number, the maximum coupling coefficient between the atoms and cavity fields is almost unchanged, so the contrast of the detected spectrum is nearly independent of the mode number. Analysis shows that Laguerre-Gaussian transverse mode provides more abundant information about atomic motion trajectory than Hermite-Gaussian transverse mode. The field distribution of Laguerre-Gaussian transverse mode is ring-shaped. Owing to the ring shape, the atoms dropped at different positions experience different electric field intensities, and the detected transmission spectra are changed. Therefore, we can implement the high precision distinguishment of the atomic trajectories by observing the features of the transmission spectra such as the number of the transmission peaks and their positions. Furthermore, a small deviation of the atomic motion trajectories, on the edges of the rings of the electric field, may induce great change in transmission spectrum, and then we can very accurately detect the atomic motion around these positions.

Acta Physica Sinica•Jan 1, 2015•2 citations

Precision measurement of single atoms strongly coupled to the higher-order transverse modes of a high-finesse optical cavity

Jinjin Du, Wenfang Li, Ruijuan Wen +3 more

We have experimentally demonstrated the strong coupling between single atoms and the higher-order Hermite-Gaussian transverse modes in a high-finesse optical microcavity. Compared to the usual low-order symmetric transverse modes, multiple lobes and the asymmetric spatial pattern of the titled modes provide more information about the motion of single atoms in the cavity. The motional information can be extracted from the measured transmission spectra, which includes the velocities and the positions of the atoms in vertical and off-axis directions. The scheme has great potential in time-resolved atom-cavity microscopy and in tracking the three-dimensional single atom trajectory in real time.

Applied Physics Letters•Aug 19, 2013•16 citations

Single-Atom Trajectories in Higher-Order Transverse Modes of a High-Finesse Optical Cavity

Thomas Puppe, Peter Maunz, T. Fischer +2 more

Transits of single atoms through higher-order Hermite–Gaussian transverse modes of a high-finesse optical cavity are observed. Compared to the fundamental Gaussian mode, the use of higher-order modes increases the information on the atomic position. The experiment is a first experimental step towards the realisation of an atomic kaleidoscope.

arXiv:quant-ph/0310084•Physica Scripta•Jan 1, 2004•32 citations

Architecture dependence of photon antibunching in cavity quantum electrodynamics

Matthew Bradford, Jung‐Tsung Shen

We investigate numerically the architecture dependence of the characteristics of antibunched photons generated in cavity quantum electrodynamic systems. We show that the quality of antibunching [the smallness of the second-order intensity correlation function at zero time ${g}^{(2)}(0)$] and the generation efficiency significantly depend on the configurations: the arrangements of single-mode optical cavities and waveguides. We found that for certain class of architecture, when the Jaynes-Cummings system (the atom-cavity system) couples to two terminated waveguides, there exists a fundamental tradeoff between high transmission and low ${g}^{(2)}(0)$, and is sensitive to dissipation. We further show that optimal antibunching can be achieved in two alternative cavity quantum electrodynamic configurations operating in the dissipatively weak coupling regime such that the two-photon transmission can be two orders of magnitude higher for the same ${g}^{(2)}(0)$.

Physical Review A•Aug 10, 2015•11 citations

Real-time measurement and trapping of single atoms by single photons

Christina J. Hood

Cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED), the system of a single atom interacting with a single mode of a high finesse optical resonator, has tremendous potential for use in quantum logic, quantum information processing, and in enabling observation of quantum mechanical effects in the laboratory. The work of this thesis demonstrates a number of steps toward realizing these goals, by employing an experimental system with the strongest atom-field coupling achieved to date in optical cavity QED. The effects of strong coupling in cavity QED are studied for single cold atoms measured one at a time, in real time. The passage of single atoms through the cavity is employed to map out the frequency response of the system, and to demonstrate that quantum rather than semiclassical theory provides the correct theoretical model. The mechanical effects of strong coupling on single atoms are explored, these experiments demonstrating the first trapping of single atoms with single photons. Additionally, strong coupling enables high signal-to-noise ratio for monitoring atomic position at single photon field strengths; this capability is employed to investigate the motion of atoms trapped within the cavity. The transmitted cavity field is used to reconstruct the trajectories of single atoms, thereby realizing a new form of microscopy - the Atom-Cavity Microscope. Technical developments necessary to create the cavities used in this experiment are detailed. Ideas for future extensions to the experiment are proposed; a zero light-shift dipole force trap, and measurement of photon statistics of a single strongly coupled atom (which realizes a photon blockade device) are discussed.

•Nov 1, 2000•16 citations
We present an alternative route to track the motion of a single atom traversing a high-finesse optical cavity by means of the coherence statistics of photon antibunching. Here the single atom strongly couples to the high-order transverse Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) mode (e.g., LG01{\text{LG}}_{01}LG01​) of optical cavity, instead of the high-order transverse Hermite-Gaussian (HG) mode, which is beneficial to the single-atom trajectory measurement utilizing such a photon antibunching effect. With this aim, we characterize the position-dependent quantum correlations of the transmitted light in such a cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED) system subject to various kinds of the LG modes, finding that the photon antibunching effect is closely related to the position of the atom in the transverse plane and therefore the degree of the antibunching carries the information about the position of the atom within the cavity. The numerical results of the second-order correlation function agree well with the analytical calculations. Thanks to the tilted transverse LG01{\text{LG}}_{01}LG01​ mode of the cavity, which is inclined to the vertical direction by an angle of \ensuremath∼15\ensuremath∘\ensuremath{\sim}{15}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}\ensuremath∼15\ensuremath∘, the LG-mode cavity QED architecture helps us to eliminate the degenerate trajectory of the single atom falling through the cavity and to obtain a unique atomic trajectory. In a 10\ensuremath-\ensuremathμs10\text{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{s}10\ensuremath-\ensuremathμs-long time interval as an example, our in-depth analysis displays that the atomic position with the spatial resolution of \ensuremath∼4.0\ensuremathμm\ensuremath{\sim}4.0\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}\ensuremath∼4.0\ensuremathμm in the vertical direction (axis xxx) can be achieved. The present study is useful for well understanding and researching both the robust generation of single-photon source and the precision measurement of single-atom trajectory.
We demonstrate the trajectory measurement of the single neutral atoms deterministically using a high-finesse optical microcavity. The single atom strongly couples to the high-order transverse vacuum TEM10{}_{10}10​ mode, instead of the usual TEM00{}_{00}00​ mode, and the parameters of the system are $({g}_{10},\ensuremath{\kappa},\ensuremath{\gamma})=2\ensuremath{\pi}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}(20.5,2.6,2.6) \text{MHz}$. The atoms simply fall down freely from the magneto-optical trap into the cavity modes, and the trajectories of the single atoms are linear. The transmission spectra of atoms passing through the TEM10{}_{10}10​ mode are detected by single-photon counting modules and are well fitted. Thanks to the tilted cavity transverse TEM10{}_{10}10​ mode, which is inclined to the vertical direction  ~ ${45}^{\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}}$, it helps us to eliminate the degenerate trajectory of the single atom falling through the cavity and to obtain a unique atom trajectory. An atom position with a high precision of $0.1 \ensuremath{\mu}\text{m}$ in the off-axis direction (axis yyy) is obtained, and a spatial resolution of $5.6 \ensuremath{\mu}\text{m}$ is achieved in a time interval of $10 \ensuremath{\mu}\text{s}$ along the vertical direction (axis xxx). The average velocity of the atoms is also measured from the atom transits, which determines independently the temperature of the atoms in a magneto-optical trap, $186\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}19 \ensuremath{\mu}\text{K}$.
A coupled quantum system composed of cavity field and atoms is one of the main research contents of cavity quantum electrodynamics. It can be used to realize single atom manipulation and measurement, and has important significance for studying the interaction between light and the atom, preparing quantum states and quantum entanglement. Current research work mainly focuses on two aspects. One is to achieve the atom trapping via the feedback control of the trapping laser intensity. The other is to measure the single atomic motion in a Fabry-Perot cavity by using Hermite-Gaussian transverse modes. The detection of the atomic trajectories has been realized via the observation of transmission spectra of the strong coupling system composed of cold atoms and Hermite-Gaussian transverse modes in a Fabry-Perot cavity. In order to observe the atomic motion trajectories in the cavity, we theoretically study the transmission spectrum of a strong coupling system composed of cold atoms and Laguerre-Gaussian transverse modes in a Fabry-Perot cavity in this paper. We calculate the relationship between the coupling coefficient and the mode number of Laguerre-Gaussian transverse modes. The result shows that with the increase of Laguerre-Gaussian transverse mode number, the maximum coupling coefficient between the atoms and cavity fields is almost unchanged, so the contrast of the detected spectrum is nearly independent of the mode number. Analysis shows that Laguerre-Gaussian transverse mode provides more abundant information about atomic motion trajectory than Hermite-Gaussian transverse mode. The field distribution of Laguerre-Gaussian transverse mode is ring-shaped. Owing to the ring shape, the atoms dropped at different positions experience different electric field intensities, and the detected transmission spectra are changed. Therefore, we can implement the high precision distinguishment of the atomic trajectories by observing the features of the transmission spectra such as the number of the transmission peaks and their positions. Furthermore, a small deviation of the atomic motion trajectories, on the edges of the rings of the electric field, may induce great change in transmission spectrum, and then we can very accurately detect the atomic motion around these positions.
We have experimentally demonstrated the strong coupling between single atoms and the higher-order Hermite-Gaussian transverse modes in a high-finesse optical microcavity. Compared to the usual low-order symmetric transverse modes, multiple lobes and the asymmetric spatial pattern of the titled modes provide more information about the motion of single atoms in the cavity. The motional information can be extracted from the measured transmission spectra, which includes the velocities and the positions of the atoms in vertical and off-axis directions. The scheme has great potential in time-resolved atom-cavity microscopy and in tracking the three-dimensional single atom trajectory in real time.
We investigate numerically the architecture dependence of the characteristics of antibunched photons generated in cavity quantum electrodynamic systems. We show that the quality of antibunching [the smallness of the second-order intensity correlation function at zero time g(2)(0){g}^{(2)}(0)g(2)(0)] and the generation efficiency significantly depend on the configurations: the arrangements of single-mode optical cavities and waveguides. We found that for certain class of architecture, when the Jaynes-Cummings system (the atom-cavity system) couples to two terminated waveguides, there exists a fundamental tradeoff between high transmission and low g(2)(0){g}^{(2)}(0)g(2)(0), and is sensitive to dissipation. We further show that optimal antibunching can be achieved in two alternative cavity quantum electrodynamic configurations operating in the dissipatively weak coupling regime such that the two-photon transmission can be two orders of magnitude higher for the same g(2)(0){g}^{(2)}(0)g(2)(0).
Cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED), the system of a single atom interacting with a single mode of a high finesse optical resonator, has tremendous potential for use in quantum logic, quantum information processing, and in enabling observation of quantum mechanical effects in the laboratory. The work of this thesis demonstrates a number of steps toward realizing these goals, by employing an experimental system with the strongest atom-field coupling achieved to date in optical cavity QED. The effects of strong coupling in cavity QED are studied for single cold atoms measured one at a time, in real time. The passage of single atoms through the cavity is employed to map out the frequency response of the system, and to demonstrate that quantum rather than semiclassical theory provides the correct theoretical model. The mechanical effects of strong coupling on single atoms are explored, these experiments demonstrating the first trapping of single atoms with single photons. Additionally, strong coupling enables high signal-to-noise ratio for monitoring atomic position at single photon field strengths; this capability is employed to investigate the motion of atoms trapped within the cavity. The transmitted cavity field is used to reconstruct the trajectories of single atoms, thereby realizing a new form of microscopy - the Atom-Cavity Microscope. Technical developments necessary to create the cavities used in this experiment are detailed. Ideas for future extensions to the experiment are proposed; a zero light-shift dipole force trap, and measurement of photon statistics of a single strongly coupled atom (which realizes a photon blockade device) are discussed.