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Controlling the motion of an atom in an optical cavity

Thomas H. Fischer

Published Jan 1, 2003• 1 citation
OpenAlex

Abstract

An experiment is described where slow laser-cooled atoms are injected into a high-finesse optical cavity. Single atoms are trapped in the cavity light field and observed by measuring the light intensity transmitted through the cavity. Feedback-based methods are realized to extend the time the atom stays in the cavity. The influence of atoms on the cavity transmission and the light force on atoms in a cavity are also analyzed theoretically. This allows to study the motion of an atom in the cavity and to interpret the experimental transmission signals. The current limitations for the storage time are identified and a strategy to overcome them is suggested. Apart from that, a method is proposed which allows a two-dimensional position measurement of atoms in the cavity.

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An experiment is described where slow laser-cooled atoms are injected into a high-finesse optical cavity. Single atoms are trapped in the cavity light field and observed by measuring the light intensity transmitted through the cavity. Feedback-based methods are realized to extend the time the atom stays in the cavity. The influence of atoms on the cavity transmission and the light force on atoms in a cavity are also analyzed theoretically. This allows to study the motion of an atom in the cavity and to interpret the experimental transmission signals. The current limitations for the storage time are identified and a strategy to overcome them is suggested. Apart from that, a method is proposed which allows a two-dimensional position measurement of atoms in the cavity.
We demonstrate feedback on the motion of a single neutral atom trapped in the light field of a high-finesse cavity. Information on the atomic motion is obtained from the transmittance of the cavity. This is used to implement a feedback loop in analog electronics that influences the atom's motion by controlling the optical dipole force exerted by the same light that is used to observe the atom. In spite of intrinsic limitations, the time the atom stays within the cavity could be extended by almost 30% beyond that of a comparable constant-intensity dipole trap.
Abstract. We experimentally investigate the interaction between one and two atoms and the field of a high-finesse optical resonator. Laser-cooled caesium atoms are transported into the cavity using an optical dipole trap. We monitor the interaction dynamics of a single atom strongly coupled to the resonator mode for several hundred milliseconds by observing the cavity transmission. Moreover, we investigate the position-dependent coupling of one and two atoms by shuttling them through the cavity mode. We demonstrate an alternative method, which suppresses heating effects, to analyze the atom-field interaction by retrieving the atom from the cavity and by measuring its final state.
Recent realizations of single-atom trapping and tracking in cavity QED open the door for feedback schemes which actively stabilize the motion of a single atom in real time. We present feedback algorithms for cooling the radial component of motion for a single atom trapped by strong coupling to single-photon fields in an optical cavity. Performance of various algorithms is studied through simulations of single-atom trajectories, with full dynamical and measurement noise included. Closed loop feedback algorithms compare favorably to open-loop "switching" analogs, demonstrating the importance of applying actual position information in real time. The high optical information rate in current experiments enables real-time tracking that approaches the standard quantum limit for broadband position measurements, suggesting that realistic active feedback schemes may reach a regime where measurement backaction appreciably alters the motional dynamics.
Recent realizations of single-atom trapping and tracking in cavity QED open the door for feedback schemes which actively stabilize the motion of a single atom in real time. We present feedback algorithms for cooling the radial component of motion for a single atom trapped by strong coupling to single-photon fields in an optical cavity. Performance of various algorithms is studied through simulations of single-atom trajectories, with full dynamical and measurement noise included. Closed loop feedback algorithms compare favorably to open-loop "switching" analogs, demonstrating the importance of applying actual position information in real time. The high optical information rate in current experiments enables real-time tracking that approaches the standard quantum limit for broadband position measurements, suggesting that realistic active feedback schemes may reach a regime where measurement backaction appreciably alters the motional dynamics.
We experimentally investigate the interaction between one and two atoms and the field of a high-finesse optical resonator. Laser-cooled caesium atoms are transported into the cavity using an optical dipole trap. We monitor the interaction dynamics of a single atom strongly coupled to the resonator mode for several hundred milliseconds by observing the cavity transmission. Moreover, we investigate the position-dependent coupling of one and two atoms by shuttling them through the cavity mode. We demonstrate an alternative method, which suppresses heating effects, to analyse the atom–field interaction by retrieving the atom from the cavity and by measuring its final state.
We describe a new experimental apparatus strongly coupling individual rubidium atoms to the light field of a high-finesse cavity. The main focus of this work lies on the observation of the dynamics of the system. Because of the strong coupling between the atom and the light field, we can track the atomic motion in real time. This enables us to reduce the motion by means of feedback resulting in a dramatic increase of the duration of stay of the atom in the cavity. In another experiment, we study the quantum dynamics of the internal degrees of freedom. For this purpose, we analyze the temporal distribution of the photon stream that is emitted from the system. We observe the coherent exchange of energy between the atom and the cavity, as well as between the atom-cavity system and the driving laser. Moreover, we show that the fluctuations of the emitted light are asymmetric in time.