Phys.org November 19, 2019
By controlling individual atoms, quantum properties can be investigated and made usable for technological applications. However, the applicability of this technology has been limited because the atoms become very hot after a very short time and are lost. An international team of researchers (Austria, Germany) has carefully analyzed the system. With their theoretical model, they were able to show that a certain form of mechanical vibration of the glass fiber is responsible for the strong heating of the particles. This finding has important consequences for applications. The technology can be significantly improved with simple countermeasures, longer coherence times allow more complex experiments and applications, helpful for many similar nanophotonic traps. The theoretical model they have now published provides essential guidelines for the design of such atomic traps…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Laser light can be used to capture individual atoms along a very thin glass fiber. Credit: Mathieu L. Juan