pith. sign in

arxiv: quant-ph/0107029 · v1 · submitted 2001-07-05 · 🪐 quant-ph

An optical conveyor belt for single neutral atoms

classification 🪐 quant-ph
keywords atomsnumberopticalbeltconveyordipoleneutralprescribed
0
0 comments X
read the original abstract

Using optical dipole forces we have realized controlled transport of a single or any desired small number of neutral atoms over a distance of a centimeter with sub-micrometer precision. A standing wave dipole trap is loaded with a prescribed number of cesium atoms from a magneto-optical trap. Mutual detuning of the counter-propagating laser beams moves the interference pattern, allowing us to accelerate and stop the atoms at preselected points along the standing wave. The transportation efficiency is close to 100%. This optical "single-atom conveyor belt" represents a versatile tool for future experiments requiring deterministic delivery of a prescribed number of atoms on demand.

This paper has not been read by Pith yet.

discussion (0)

Sign in with ORCID, Apple, or X to comment. Anyone can read and Pith papers without signing in.