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arXiv · 1202.4559

Interferometric thermometry of a single sub-Doppler cooled atom

L. Slodička·G. Hétet·N. Röck·S. Gerber·P. Schindler·M. Kumph·M. Hennrich·R. Blatt
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Abstract

Efficient self-interference of single-photons emitted by a sideband-cooled Barium ion is demonstrated. First, the technical tools for performing efficient coupling to the quadrupolar transition of a single $^{138}$Ba$^{+}$ ion are presented. We show efficient Rabi oscillations of the internal state of the ion using a highly stabilized 1.76 $μm$ fiber laser resonant with the S$_{1/2}$-D$_{5/2}$ transition. We then show sideband cooling of the ion's motional modes and use it as a means to enhance the interference contrast of the ion with its mirror-image to up to 90%. Last, we measure the dependence of the self-interference contrast on the mean phonon number, thereby demonstrating the potential of the set-up for single-atom thermometry close to the motional ground state.

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L. Slodička, G. Hétet, N. Röck, S. Gerber, P. Schindler, M. Kumph, M. Hennrich, R. Blatt. 2012-04-04. Interferometric thermometry of a single sub-Doppler cooled atom. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.85.043401

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