Quantum Communication and Quantum Networking. First International Conference, QuantumComm 2009, Naples, Italy, October 26-30, 2009, Revised Selected Papers

Research Article

Few Atom Detection and Manipulation Using Optical Nanofibres

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  • @INPROCEEDINGS{10.1007/978-3-642-11731-2_24,
        author={Kieran Deasy and Amy Watkins and Michael Morrissey and Regine Schmidt and S\^{\i}le Chormaic},
        title={Few Atom Detection and Manipulation Using Optical Nanofibres},
        proceedings={Quantum Communication and Quantum Networking. First International Conference, QuantumComm 2009, Naples, Italy, October 26-30, 2009, Revised Selected Papers},
        proceedings_a={QUANTUMCOMM},
        year={2012},
        month={10},
        keywords={Atom fluorescence optical nanofibres evanescent field},
        doi={10.1007/978-3-642-11731-2_24}
    }
    
  • Kieran Deasy
    Amy Watkins
    Michael Morrissey
    Regine Schmidt
    Síle Chormaic
    Year: 2012
    Few Atom Detection and Manipulation Using Optical Nanofibres
    QUANTUMCOMM
    Springer
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-11731-2_24
Kieran Deasy,*, Amy Watkins,*, Michael Morrissey, Regine Schmidt1,*, Síle Chormaic,*
  • 1: University College Cork, Prospect Row
*Contact email: kieran.deasy@tyndall.ie, amy.watkins@tyndall.ie, regine.schmidt@tyndall.ie, sile.nicchormaic@tyndall.ie

Abstract

We study the coupling of spontaneously emitted photons from laser-cooled Rb atoms to the guided modes of an optical nanofibre to demonstrate the potential such fibres offer as tools for detecting and manipulating cold atoms, even when the number of atoms is very small. We also demonstrate the integration of an optical nanofibre into an absorption spectroscopy setup, showcasing the ability of the evanescent field around nanofibres to interact with atoms in close proximity to the fibre. In principle, trapping of single atoms in engineered optical potentials on the surface of the fibre should facilitate entanglement between distant atoms mediated via the guided modes of the nanofibre.