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Fast cavity-enhanced atom detection with low noise and high fidelity

Author

Listed:
  • J. Goldwin

    (Centre for Cold Matter, Imperial College, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BW, UK.
    School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham)

  • M. Trupke

    (Centre for Cold Matter, Imperial College, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BW, UK.
    Present address: Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology, Atominstitut, TU Wien, 1020 Vienna, Austria.)

  • J. Kenner

    (Centre for Cold Matter, Imperial College, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BW, UK.)

  • A. Ratnapala

    (Centre for Cold Matter, Imperial College, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BW, UK.)

  • E.A. Hinds

    (Centre for Cold Matter, Imperial College, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BW, UK.)

Abstract

Cavity quantum electrodynamics describes the fundamental interactions between light and matter, and how they can be controlled by shaping the local environment. For example, optical microcavities allow high-efficiency detection and manipulation of single atoms. In this regime, fluctuations of atom number are on the order of the mean number, which can lead to signal fluctuations in excess of the noise on the incident probe field. Here we demonstrate, however, that nonlinearities and multi-atom statistics can together serve to suppress the effects of atomic fluctuations when making local density measurements on clouds of cold atoms. We measure atom densities below 1 per cavity mode volume near the photon shot-noise limit. This is in direct contrast to previous experiments where fluctuations in atom number contribute significantly to the noise. Atom detection is shown to be fast and efficient, reaching fidelities in excess of 97% after 10 μs and 99.9% after 30 μs.

Suggested Citation

  • J. Goldwin & M. Trupke & J. Kenner & A. Ratnapala & E.A. Hinds, 2011. "Fast cavity-enhanced atom detection with low noise and high fidelity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 2(1), pages 1-6, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:2:y:2011:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms1428
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1428
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