Cold-Atom Physics Using Ultrathin Optical Fibers: Light-Induced Dipole Forces and Surface Interactions

Journal Article · Fri Oct 19 00:00:00 EDT 2007 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.99.163602· OSTI ID:21024323

Sague, G; Vetsch, E; Alt, W; Meschede, D; Rauschenbeutel, A ^[1]

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1. Institut fuer Angewandte Physik, Universitaet Bonn, Wegelerstr. 8, 53115 Bonn (Germany)

The strong evanescent field around ultrathin unclad optical fibers bears a high potential for detecting, trapping, and manipulating cold atoms. Introducing such a fiber into a cold-atom cloud, we investigate the interaction of a small number of cold cesium atoms with the guided fiber mode and with the fiber surface. Using high resolution spectroscopy, we observe and analyze light-induced dipole forces, van der Waals interaction, and a significant enhancement of the spontaneous emission rate of the atoms. The latter can be assigned to the modification of the vacuum modes by the fiber.

• OSTI ID: 21024323
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 99, Issue 16; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.163602; (c) 2007 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CESIUM
DIPOLES
INTERACTIONS
OPTICAL FIBERS
SPECTROSCOPY
TRAPPING
VAN DER WAALS FORCES
VISIBLE RADIATION