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Published September 1, 1996 | public
Journal Article Open

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

Abstract

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.

Additional Information

© 1996 Optical Society of America Received April 22, 1996 We gratefully acknowledge our ongoing collaboration with A. S. Parkins, who encouraged us to initiate the research described in this Letter. We thank W. Lange and C. Hood for valuable technical assistance as well as R. Lalezari and co-workers at Research Electrooptics for mirror fabrication. H. Mabuchi holds a National Defense Science and Engineering graduate fellowship. M. S. Chapman acknowledges support from a Millikan Prize fellowship. This research is supported by the U.S. Office of Naval Research and the National Science Foundation.

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August 22, 2023
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