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Quantum Fluctuations of a Single Trapped Atom: Transient Rabi Oscillations and Magnetic Bistability

H. Schadwinkel·V. Gomer·U. Reiter·B. Ueberholz·D. Meschede
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Abstract

Isolation of a single atomic particle and monitoring its resonance fluorescence is a powerful tool for studies of quantum effects in radiation-matter interaction. Here we present observations of quantum dynamics of an isolated neutral atom stored in a magneto-optical trap. By means of photon correlations in the atom's resonance fluorescence we demonstrate the well-known phenomenon of photon antibunching which corresponds to transient Rabi oscillations in the atom. Through polarization-sensitive photon correlations we show a novel example of resolved quantum fluctuations: spontaneous magnetic orientation of an atom. These effects can only be observed with a single atom.

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H. Schadwinkel, V. Gomer, U. Reiter, B. Ueberholz, D. Meschede. 2000-03-22. Quantum Fluctuations of a Single Trapped Atom: Transient Rabi Oscillations and Magnetic Bistability. https://doi.org/10.1109/3.892554

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