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Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics

A CO/sub 2/ laser optical lattice with cold rubidium atoms

Martin Weitz, S. Friebel, R. Scheunemann, J. Walz, Theodor W. Hänsch

Published Nov 27, 2002• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Summary form only given.We report here the successful trapping of rubidium atoms in the antinodes of a standing wave near 10.6 /spl mu/m. This represents the realization of an optical lattice with usually large lattice period, being approximately seven times that of the excitation wavelength of the lowest electronic resonance. In a later three-dimensional configuration, more than one atom per microscopic trap could be captured at moderate average atomic densities, whereas in conventional optical lattices, only a few percent of the lattice sites are occupied.

DOI
10.1109/iqec.1998.680419

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This thesis reports on the design and construction of, and results from, an optical-dipole trapping apparatus developed to confine ultracold rubidium atoms in a conservative, large period, optical-dipole trap. An ultra-high vacuum system was designed and constructed to create a very low- background pressure. A new technique of viewport construction was developed, allowing for the fabrication of economical, high-quality windows for transmission of mid-infra-red laser radiation. The construction of a magneto-optical trap (MOT) and an optical molasses, and the subsequent characterisation, are discussed. A theory for the ac-Stark shift of atoms in a far-detuned laser field was developed. The nature of the scalar and tensorial light-shifts of the ground and first excited states of alkali atoms - the 5s(^2)S1/2 and 5p(^2)P3/2 states of Rb - has been examined. The effect of the differential light-shifts between these states on the operation of efficient laser cooling is discussed. A quasi-electrostatic dipole trap (QUEST) was formed from 50 W of CO2 laser power (٢ = 10.6 μm), focussed to <100 μm. The transfer of ultra-cold atoms from the MOT and optical molasses to the QUEST have been examined. Single beam and standing wave geometries of the QUEST have been implemented, with lifetimes of many seconds. The theory for the ac-Stark effect due to a single laser field has been further developed to consider orthogonally polarised fields with independent wavelengths. The use of an auxiliary laser field, a Nd:YAG laser at λ = 1.064 μm, to enhance the number and density of atoms loaded into the QUEST has been proposed and realised.

•Jan 1, 2005•9 citations
Summary form only given.We report here the successful trapping of rubidium atoms in the antinodes of a standing wave near 10.6 /spl mu/m. This represents the realization of an optical lattice with usually large lattice period, being approximately seven times that of the excitation wavelength of the lowest electronic resonance. In a later three-dimensional configuration, more than one atom per microscopic trap could be captured at moderate average atomic densities, whereas in conventional optical lattices, only a few percent of the lattice sites are occupied.
Summary form only given. Standing wave laser fields produce a periodic potential for atoms, which can trap cold atoms in an ordered crystal-like structure to form an optical lattice. Optical lattices have been used as model systems in studies of quantum dynamical effects and quantum state control. More recently, it has been suggested that such lattices would provide an attractive system for performing quantum logic experiments, as efficient quantum error correction schemes can be implemented due to the inherent possibility of parallel operation. On the other hand, the possibility to selectively address and manipulate single qubits is essential in the operation of quantum logic systems. This is difficult to achieve in conventional optical lattices, where the spatial period is of order half the wavelength of an optical absorption line. We report on the optical imaging of rubidium atoms trapped in the antinodes of an extremely far detuned optical lattice formed by retroreflecting the light of a CO/sub 2/-laser operating near 10.6 /spl mu/m. To our knowledge, this represents the first observation of the individual sites of an optical lattice with a periodicity near half the trapping wavelength. Besides the unusually large lattice constant (5.3 /spl mu/m), intriguing properties of this type of lattice also include extremely long coherence times, as the expected average photon scattering time is over 10 minutes.
We report on the experimental realization of a conservative optical lattice for cold atoms with a subwavelength spatial structure.The potential is based on the nonlinear optical response of three-level atoms in laser-dressed dark states, which is not constrained by the diffraction limit of the light generating the potential.The lattice consists of a one-dimensional array of ultranarrow barriers with widths less than 10 nm, well below the wavelength of the lattice light, physically realizing a Kronig-Penney potential.We study the band structure and dissipation of this lattice and find good agreement with theoretical predictions.Even on resonance, the observed lifetimes of atoms trapped in the lattice are as long as 44 ms, nearly 10 5 times the excited state lifetime, and could be further improved with more laser intensity.The potential is readily generalizable to higher dimensions and different geometries, allowing, for example, nearly perfect box traps, narrow tunnel junctions for atomtronics applications, and dynamically generated lattices with subwavelength spacings.
We have observed quantized motion of rubidium atoms spatially confined by dipole forces inside microscopic light traps. A cubic lattice of such traps is formed by three mutually orthogonal standing waves. We compare 2D and 3D confinement in the same experiment by observing the absorption of a weak probe laser beam. In both cases we observe Raman transitions between vibrational levels and a central Rayleigh resonance. When we switch to 3D confinement the line width of this Rayleigh resonance dramatically decreases to values below 1 kHz.
This thesis reports on the design and construction of, and results from, an optical-dipole trapping apparatus developed to confine ultracold rubidium atoms in a conservative, large period, optical-dipole trap. An ultra-high vacuum system was designed and constructed to create a very low- background pressure. A new technique of viewport construction was developed, allowing for the fabrication of economical, high-quality windows for transmission of mid-infra-red laser radiation. The construction of a magneto-optical trap (MOT) and an optical molasses, and the subsequent characterisation, are discussed. A theory for the ac-Stark shift of atoms in a far-detuned laser field was developed. The nature of the scalar and tensorial light-shifts of the ground and first excited states of alkali atoms - the 5s(^2)S1/2 and 5p(^2)P3/2 states of Rb - has been examined. The effect of the differential light-shifts between these states on the operation of efficient laser cooling is discussed. A quasi-electrostatic dipole trap (QUEST) was formed from 50 W of CO2 laser power (٢ = 10.6 μm), focussed to <100 μm. The transfer of ultra-cold atoms from the MOT and optical molasses to the QUEST have been examined. Single beam and standing wave geometries of the QUEST have been implemented, with lifetimes of many seconds. The theory for the ac-Stark effect due to a single laser field has been further developed to consider orthogonally polarised fields with independent wavelengths. The use of an auxiliary laser field, a Nd:YAG laser at λ = 1.064 μm, to enhance the number and density of atoms loaded into the QUEST has been proposed and realised.