Theory of a Quantum Scanning Microscope for Cold Atoms

We propose and analyze a scanning microscope to monitor "live" the quantum dynamics of cold atoms in a cavity QED setup. The microscope measures the atomic density with subwavelength resolution via dispersive couplings to a cavity and homodyne detection within the framework of continuous m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2018-03, Vol.120 (13), p.133601-133601, Article 133601
Main Authors: Yang, D, Laflamme, C, Vasilyev, D V, Baranov, M A, Zoller, P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cold atoms
Couplings
Eigenvectors
Quantum electrodynamics
Quantum nondemolition
Quantum theory
Spatial analysis
Spatial distribution
Wave packets
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Summary:We propose and analyze a scanning microscope to monitor "live" the quantum dynamics of cold atoms in a cavity QED setup. The microscope measures the atomic density with subwavelength resolution via dispersive couplings to a cavity and homodyne detection within the framework of continuous measurement theory. We analyze two modes of operation. First, for a fixed focal point the microscope records the wave packet dynamics of atoms with time resolution set by the cavity lifetime. Second, a spatial scan of the microscope acts to map out the spatial density of stationary quantum states. Remarkably, in the latter case, for a good cavity limit, the microscope becomes an effective quantum nondemolition device, such that the spatial distribution of motional eigenstates can be measured backaction free in single scans, as an emergent quantum nondemolition measurement.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/physrevlett.120.133601