Cold atoms in micromachined waveguides: A new platform for atom-photon interactions

Da Ros, E.; Cooper, N.; Nute, J.; Hackermueller, L.

Abstract

Hybrid quantum devices, incorporating both atoms and photons, can exploit the benefits of both to enable scalable architectures for quantum computing and quantum communication, as well as chip-scale sensors and single-photon sources. Production of such devices depends on the development of an interface between their atomic and photonic components. This should be compact, robust, and compatible with existing technologies from both fields. Here we demonstrate such an interface. Cold cesium atoms are trapped inside a transverse, 30μm-diameter through hole in an optical fiber, created via laser micromachining. When the guided light is on resonance with the cesium D2 line, up to 87% of it is absorbed by the atoms. The corresponding optical depth per unit length is ∼700 cm−1, higher than any reported for a comparable system. This is important for miniaturization and scalability. The technique can be equally effective in optical waveguide chips and other existing photonic systems, providing a promising platform for fundamental research.

Citation

Da Ros, E., Cooper, N., Nute, J., & Hackermueller, L. (2020). Cold atoms in micromachined waveguides: A new platform for atom-photon interactions. Physical Review Research, 2(3), Article 033098. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevresearch.2.033098

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 23, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Jul 17, 2020
• Publication Date: Jul 17, 2020
• Deposit Date: Sep 1, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 1, 2020
• Journal: Physical Review Research
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 2
• Issue: 3
• Article Number: 033098
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevresearch.2.033098
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4872416
• Publisher URL: https://journals.aps.org/prresearch/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.033098