Real-time detection of individual atoms falling through a high-finesse optical cavity

The enhanced coupling between atoms and photons inside a high-finesse optical cavity provides a novel basis for optical measurements that continuously monitor atomic degrees of freedom. We describe an experiment in which cavity quantum-electrodynamic effects are utilized for real-time detection of individual atoms falling through an optical cavity after being dropped from a magneto-optical trap. Our technique permits experiments that are triggered by the presence of a single optimally coupled atom within the cavity mode volume

Nonlinear spectroscopy in the strong-coupling regime of cavity QED

A nonlinear spectroscopic investigation of a strongly coupled atom-cavity system is presented. A two-field pump-probe experiment is employed to study nonlinear structure as the average number of intracavity atoms is varied from N̅≈4.2 to N̅≈0.8. Nonlinear effects are observed for as few as 0.1 intracavity pump photons. A detailed semiclassical simulation of the atomic beam experiment gives reasonable agreement with the data for N̅≳2 atoms. The simulation procedure accounts for fluctuations in atom-field coupling which have important effects on both the linear and nonlinear probe transmission spectra. A discrepancy between the simulations and the experiments is observed for small numbers of atoms (N̅≲1). Unfortunately, it is difficult to determine if this discrepancy is a definitive consequence of the quantum nature of the atom-cavity coupling or a result of the severe technical complications of the experiment

Near-field imaging with two transmission gratings for submicrometer localization of atoms

We show theoretically that an atomic pattern with period d can be obtained with 100% visibility even for an infinitely extended source by sending atoms through two transmission gratings with periods d and d/2, respectively, and separated by half the Talbot length LT/2=d^2/2λdB, where λdB is the atomic wavelength and the source is infinitely far away. For a finite source distance, as would be attainable in any real experiment, a small correction to the grating periods and separations restores the period-d pattern. This effect is closely related to the Talbot and Lau effects in classical optics and can be used to localize atoms to a submicrometer scale without a compromise in atomic flux. We first derive compact analytical formulas for the idealized case of a monochromatic source and large gratings and then verify numerically that a finite grating size and velocity dispersion in the beam do not decrease the fringe visibility considerably. Finally, we briefly present an experiment in preparation to exhibit this localization

Quantum phase gate for photonic qubits using only beam splitters and post-selection

We show that a beam splitter of reflectivity one-third can be used to realize a quantum phase gate operation if only the outputs conserving the number of photons on each side are post-selected.Comment: 6 pages RevTex, including one figur

Two-photon nonlinearity in general cavity QED systems

We have investigated the two-photon nonlinearity at general cavity QED systems, which covers both weak and strong coupling regimes and includes radiative loss from the atom. The one- and two-photon propagators are obtained in analytic forms. By surveying both coupling regimes, we have revealed the conditions on the photonic wavepacket for yielding large nonlinearity depending on the cavity Q-value. We have also discussed the effect of radiative loss on the nonlinearity.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

Single atoms in optical traps and high-Q cavities

A variety of experiments are underway in the Quantum Optics Group at Caltech which investigate the quantum nature of atom-field interactions at the level of individual atoms and quanta. A recent technical advance in support of this research is the observation of cooling and trapping of single neutral cesium atoms in magneto-optical trap. Discrete steps are recorded in the fluorescence signal from the trap and are associated with the arrival and departure of individual trapped atoms. Such a spatially localized sample of a single atom with small kinetic energy is an enabling advance for diverse studies in quantum optics, including the possibility of spectroscopy with squeezed and other forms of nonclassical light and cavity quantum electrodynamics with strong coupling of an atom to the field of an optical cavity

Coupling of effective one-dimensional two-level atoms to squeezed light

A cavity QED system is analyzed which duplicates the dynamics of a two-level atom in free space interacting exclusively with broadband squeezed light. We consider atoms in a three or four-level Lambda-configuration coupled to a high-finesse optical cavity which is driven by a squeezed light field. Raman transitions are induced between a pair of stable atomic ground states via the squeezed cavity mode and coherent driving fields. An analysis of the reduced master equation for the atomic ground states shows that a three-level atomic system has insufficient parameter flexibility to act as an effective two-level atom interacting exclusively with a squeezed reservoir. However, the inclusion of a fourth atomic level, coupled dispersively to one of the two ground states by an auxiliary laser field, introduces an extra degree of freedom and enables the desired interaction to be realised. As a means of detecting the reduced quadrature decay rate of the effective two-level system, we examine the transmission spectrum of a weak coherent probe field incident upon the cavity

Giant Optical Non-linearity induced by a Single Two-Level System interacting with a Cavity in the Purcell Regime

A two-level system that is coupled to a high-finesse cavity in the Purcell regime exhibits a giant optical non-linearity due to the saturation of the two-level system at very low intensities, of the order of one photon per lifetime. We perform a detailed analysis of this effect, taking into account the most important practical imperfections. Our conclusion is that an experimental demonstration of the giant non-linearity should be feasible using semiconductor micropillar cavities containing a single quantum dot in resonance with the cavity mode.Comment: 40 pages, 16 figures, accepted in Phys. Rev.

Complete Characterization of a Quantum Process: the Two-Bit Quantum Gate

We show how to fully characterize a quantum process in an open quantum system. We particularize the procedure to the case of a universal two-qubit gate in a quantum computer. We illustrate the method with a numerical simulation of a quantum gate in the ion trap quantum computer.Comment: Accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters 08Nov96 (submitted 15Jly96