An optical conveyor belt for single neutral atoms
Preprint
- 5 July 2001
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.Keywords
All Related Versions
- Version 1, 2001-07-05, ArXiv
- Published version: Applied Physics B Laser and Optics, 73 (8), 819.
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