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arXiv:quant-ph/0407229 · Physical Review A

Single-atom detection using whispering-gallery modes of microdisk resonators

Michael Rosenblit, Péter Horák, Steve Helsby, R. Folman

Published Nov 9, 2004• 66 citations
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Abstract

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.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.70.053808

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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.
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.
Interfacing cold atoms with nanophotonic waveguides and resonators promises stronger atom-light interactions and leads to new paradigms for quantum optics. Here, we demonstrate coupling single atoms to a nanophotonic whispering-gallery-mode resonator using two different methods. The first one is an optical guiding technique that makes use of diffracted light from a nanophotonic waveguide to direct cold atoms to the evanescent region of the resonator. The second one is an optical conveyor-belt consisting of a moving optical lattice for controlled delivery of trapped atoms. Our demonstration enables new applications with scalable light-matter interface based on cold atoms coupled to nanophotonic circuits.
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.