Vacuum-stimulated cooling of single atoms in three dimensions

Journal article

Taming quantum dynamical processes is the key to novel applications of quantum physics, e.g. in quantum information science. The control of light-matter interactions at the single-atom and single-photon level can be achieved in cavity quantum electrodynamics, in particular in the regime of strong coupling where atom and cavity form a single entity. In the optical domain, this requires permanent trapping and cooling of an atom in a micro-cavity. We have now realized three-dimensional cavity cooling and trapping for an orthogonal arrangement of cooling laser, trap laser and cavity vacuum. This leads to average single-atom trapping times exceeding 15 seconds, unprecedented for a strongly coupled atom under permanent observation.

Authors: Nussmann, S; Murr, K; Hijlkema, M; Weber, B; Kuhn, A

• Journal: Nature Physics, 1:122, 2005
• Publication date: 2005-06-08
• Keywords: quant-ph