An optical conveyor belt for single neutral atoms
Quantum Physics
2009-11-07 v1
Abstract
Using optical dipole forces we have realized controlled transport of a single or any desired small number of neutral atoms over a distance of a centimeter with sub-micrometer precision. A standing wave dipole trap is loaded with a prescribed number of cesium atoms from a magneto-optical trap. Mutual detuning of the counter-propagating laser beams moves the interference pattern, allowing us to accelerate and stop the atoms at preselected points along the standing wave. The transportation efficiency is close to 100%. This optical "single-atom conveyor belt" represents a versatile tool for future experiments requiring deterministic delivery of a prescribed number of atoms on demand.
Cite
@article{arxiv.quant-ph/0107029,
title = {An optical conveyor belt for single neutral atoms},
author = {Dominik Schrader and Stefan Kuhr and Wolfgang Alt and Martin Mueller and Victor Gomer and Dieter Meschede},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/0107029},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
8 pages, 8 figures, submitted to Applied Physics B