Counting atoms in a deep optical microtrap
Optics
2011-09-13 v2
Abstract
We demonstrate a method to count small numbers of atoms held in a deep, microscopic optical dipole trap by collecting fluorescence from atoms exposed to a standing wave of light that is blue detuned from resonance. While scattering photons, the atoms are also cooled by a Sisyphus mechanism that results from the spatial variation in light intensity. The use of a small blue detuning limits the losses due to light assisted collisions, thereby making the method suitable for counting several atoms in a microscopic volume.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1011.5538,
title = {Counting atoms in a deep optical microtrap},
author = {Matthew McGovern and Andrew Hilliard and Tzahi Grünzweig and Mikkel F. Andersen},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1011.5538},
year = {2011}
}