Definitive number of atoms on demand: Controlling the number of atoms in a few-atom magneto-optical trap

A few Rb85 atoms were trapped in a micron-size magneto-optical trap with a high quadrupole magnetic-field gradient and the number of atoms was precisely controlled by suppressing stochastic loading and loss events via real-time feedback on the magnetic-field gradient. The measured occupation probabi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied physics letters 2006-05, Vol.88 (21)
Main Authors: Yoon, Seokchan, Choi, Youngwoon, Park, Sangbum, Kim, Jaisoon, Lee, Jai-Hyung, An, Kyungwon
Format: Article
Language:English
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:A few Rb85 atoms were trapped in a micron-size magneto-optical trap with a high quadrupole magnetic-field gradient and the number of atoms was precisely controlled by suppressing stochastic loading and loss events via real-time feedback on the magnetic-field gradient. The measured occupation probability of a single atom was as high as 99%. Atoms up to five were also trapped with high occupation probabilities. The present technique could be used to make a deterministic atom source.
ISSN:0003-6951
1077-3118
DOI:10.1063/1.2206118