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

arXiv:quant-ph/0310154 · Physical Review A

Transmission spectrum of an optical cavity containing N atoms

Sabrina R. Leslie, Neil Shenvi, Kenneth R. Brown, Dan Stamper-Kurn, K. Birgitta Whaley

Published Apr 6, 2004• 22 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

The transmission spectrum of a high-finesse optical cavity containing an arbitrary number of trapped atoms is presented in the zero-temperature, low saturation limit. We take spatial and motional effects into account and show that in the limit of strong coupling, the important spectral features can be determined for an arbitrary number of atoms, $N$. We also show that these results have important ramifications in limiting our ability to determine the number of atoms in the cavity.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.69.043805

Related papers

Transmission spectrum of an optical cavity containing N atoms

Sabrina R. Leslie, Dan Stamper-Kurn, Neil Shenvi +2 more

The transmission spectrum of a high-finesse optical cavity containing an arbitrary number of trapped atoms is presented. These results have important ramifications in limiting our ability to determine the number of atoms in the cavity.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Jan 1, 2004•2 citations

Observation of the Vacuum Rabi Spectrum for One Trapped Atom

Andreea Boca, Ryan Miller, Kevin M. Birnbaum +3 more

The transmission spectrum for one atom strongly coupled to the field of a high finesse optical resonator is observed to exhibit a clearly resolved vacuum Rabi splitting characteristic of the normal modes in the eigenvalue spectrum of the atom-cavity system. A new Raman scheme for cooling atomic motion along the cavity axis enables a complete spectrum to be recorded for an individual atom trapped within the cavity mode, in contrast to all previous measurements in cavity QED that have required averaging over 10(3)-10(5) atoms.

arXiv:quant-ph/0410164•Physical Review Letters•Dec 3, 2004•405 citations

Determination of the Number of Atoms Trapped in an Optical Cavity

J. McKeever, J. R. Buck, A. David. Boozer +1 more

The number of atoms trapped within the mode of an optical cavity is determined in real time by monitoring the transmission of a weak probe beam. Continuous observation of atom number is accomplished in the strong coupling regime of cavity quantum electrodynamics and functions in concert with a cooling scheme for radial atomic motion. The probe transmission exhibits sudden steps from one plateau to the next in response to the time evolution of the intracavity atom number, from N>or=3 to N=2-->1-->0 atoms, with some trapping events lasting over 1 s.

Physical Review Letters•Sep 27, 2004•73 citations

Transmission spectrum of Doppler-broadened two-level atoms in a cavity in the strong-coupling regime

Julio R. Gea-Banacloche, Haibin Wu, Min Xiao

We present the theory of ``normal mode splitting'' (sometimes also called, in the low-intensity limit, ``vacuum Rabi splitting'') for a Doppler-broadened two-level medium in an optical cavity, and illustrate it with experimental results. We note that, in the extreme Doppler limit, the absorptive and dispersive properties of the medium are due to almost completely different groups of atoms, and hence it is possible, in principle, to partially saturate the absorbing atoms without changing the dispersion very much; as a result of this, for a sufficiently high probe intensity, transmission peaks well within the Doppler absorption profile are visible, even though the medium is optically dense. Some interesting features exhibited by this system in various regimes are transmission peaks that are unrelated to the ``zero-phase'' condition, and three-peaked transmission spectra for high atomic density and high cavity input power.

Physical Review A•Aug 19, 2008•23 citations

Experiments in Cavity QED: Exploring the Interaction of Quantized Light with a Single Trapped Atom

Andreea Boca

The experiments discussed in this thesis focus on the interaction of a single trapped atom with the single mode of a high-finesse optical cavity, in the regime of strong coupling. Chapter 1 gives a brief introduction, after which Chapter 2 describes our recent measurements of the transmission spectrum of the atom-cavity system. The spectrum exhibits a clearly resolved vacuum-Rabi splitting, in good quantitative agreement with theoretical predictions. A new Raman scheme for cooling atomic motion along the cavity axis enables a complete spectrum to be recorded for an individual atom trapped within the cavity mode, in contrast to all previous measurements of this type that have required averaging over 10^3-10^5 atoms. Chapter 3 discusses our observations of photon blockade for the transmitted light in the presence of one trapped atom. Excitation of the atom-cavity system by a first photon blocks the transmission of a second one, thereby converting an incident Poissonian stream of photons into a sub-Poissonian, anti-bunched stream, as confirmed by measurements of the photon statistics of the transmitted field. The intensity correlations of the cavity transmission also reveal the energy distribution for oscillatory motion of the trapped atom. Chapter 4 details a set of simple but necessary measurements of relevant experimental parameters such as cavity geometry, linewidth, mirror properties, birefringence, and detection efficiency. The thesis concludes with Appendix A, describing the efficient laser setup we use for our magneto-optical traps.

•May 31, 2005•3 citations

Composite structure for two-state atoms in an optical cavity

M. G. Raizen, R. J. Brecha, R. J. Thompson +1 more

Experimental and theoretical investigations of the radiative processes of a collection of two-state atoms contained in a high-finesse optical cavity are reported. To make contact with previous work on this subject, we consider the usual regimens in which either the cavity or the atomic damping is dominant. However, of greater interest and relevance to our experiments is the regime of strong coupling that generates splittings and new features in the normal-mode structure of the composite atom-field system. We identify possible mechanisms for producing line shapes with subnatural linewidths. Our experimental investigations are conducted with two-state sodium atoms that interact with a single mode of an ultra-high-finesse optical cavity. The incoherent spectral density of the transmitted field is detected by optical heterodyne. We obtain good qualitative agreement between theory and experiment for the general features of the composite atom-field system as manifested in the spectral density of the transmitted field. Experiments to probe the response of the system to weak modulation of the incident field are in progress.

Annual Meeting Optical Society of America•Jan 1, 1988•0 citations
The transmission spectrum of a high-finesse optical cavity containing an arbitrary number of trapped atoms is presented in the zero-temperature, low saturation limit. We take spatial and motional effects into account and show that in the limit of strong coupling, the important spectral features can be determined for an arbitrary number of atoms, NNN. We also show that these results have important ramifications in limiting our ability to determine the number of atoms in the cavity.
The transmission spectrum for one atom strongly coupled to the field of a high finesse optical resonator is observed to exhibit a clearly resolved vacuum Rabi splitting characteristic of the normal modes in the eigenvalue spectrum of the atom-cavity system. A new Raman scheme for cooling atomic motion along the cavity axis enables a complete spectrum to be recorded for an individual atom trapped within the cavity mode, in contrast to all previous measurements in cavity QED that have required averaging over 10(3)-10(5) atoms.
The number of atoms trapped within the mode of an optical cavity is determined in real time by monitoring the transmission of a weak probe beam. Continuous observation of atom number is accomplished in the strong coupling regime of cavity quantum electrodynamics and functions in concert with a cooling scheme for radial atomic motion. The probe transmission exhibits sudden steps from one plateau to the next in response to the time evolution of the intracavity atom number, from N>or=3 to N=2-->1-->0 atoms, with some trapping events lasting over 1 s.
We present the theory of ``normal mode splitting'' (sometimes also called, in the low-intensity limit, ``vacuum Rabi splitting'') for a Doppler-broadened two-level medium in an optical cavity, and illustrate it with experimental results. We note that, in the extreme Doppler limit, the absorptive and dispersive properties of the medium are due to almost completely different groups of atoms, and hence it is possible, in principle, to partially saturate the absorbing atoms without changing the dispersion very much; as a result of this, for a sufficiently high probe intensity, transmission peaks well within the Doppler absorption profile are visible, even though the medium is optically dense. Some interesting features exhibited by this system in various regimes are transmission peaks that are unrelated to the ``zero-phase'' condition, and three-peaked transmission spectra for high atomic density and high cavity input power.
The experiments discussed in this thesis focus on the interaction of a single trapped atom with the single mode of a high-finesse optical cavity, in the regime of strong coupling. Chapter 1 gives a brief introduction, after which Chapter 2 describes our recent measurements of the transmission spectrum of the atom-cavity system. The spectrum exhibits a clearly resolved vacuum-Rabi splitting, in good quantitative agreement with theoretical predictions. A new Raman scheme for cooling atomic motion along the cavity axis enables a complete spectrum to be recorded for an individual atom trapped within the cavity mode, in contrast to all previous measurements of this type that have required averaging over 10^3-10^5 atoms. Chapter 3 discusses our observations of photon blockade for the transmitted light in the presence of one trapped atom. Excitation of the atom-cavity system by a first photon blocks the transmission of a second one, thereby converting an incident Poissonian stream of photons into a sub-Poissonian, anti-bunched stream, as confirmed by measurements of the photon statistics of the transmitted field. The intensity correlations of the cavity transmission also reveal the energy distribution for oscillatory motion of the trapped atom. Chapter 4 details a set of simple but necessary measurements of relevant experimental parameters such as cavity geometry, linewidth, mirror properties, birefringence, and detection efficiency. The thesis concludes with Appendix A, describing the efficient laser setup we use for our magneto-optical traps.
Experimental and theoretical investigations of the radiative processes of a collection of two-state atoms contained in a high-finesse optical cavity are reported. To make contact with previous work on this subject, we consider the usual regimens in which either the cavity or the atomic damping is dominant. However, of greater interest and relevance to our experiments is the regime of strong coupling that generates splittings and new features in the normal-mode structure of the composite atom-field system. We identify possible mechanisms for producing line shapes with subnatural linewidths. Our experimental investigations are conducted with two-state sodium atoms that interact with a single mode of an ultra-high-finesse optical cavity. The incoherent spectral density of the transmitted field is detected by optical heterodyne. We obtain good qualitative agreement between theory and experiment for the general features of the composite atom-field system as manifested in the spectral density of the transmitted field. Experiments to probe the response of the system to weak modulation of the incident field are in progress.