Measurement of the internal state of a single atom without energy exchange

Jürgen Volz, Roger Gehr, Guilhem Dubois, Jérôme Estève and Jakob Reichel ()
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Jürgen Volz: Laboratoire Kastler-Brossel, ENS, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie – Paris 6, 24 rue Lhomond
Roger Gehr: Laboratoire Kastler-Brossel, ENS, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie – Paris 6, 24 rue Lhomond
Guilhem Dubois: Laboratoire Kastler-Brossel, ENS, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie – Paris 6, 24 rue Lhomond
Jérôme Estève: Laboratoire Kastler-Brossel, ENS, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie – Paris 6, 24 rue Lhomond
Jakob Reichel: Laboratoire Kastler-Brossel, ENS, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie – Paris 6, 24 rue Lhomond

Nature, 2011, vol. 475, issue 7355, 210-213

Abstract: Light-touch quantum measurement Methods that use light to detect single atoms or ions usually involve some spontaneous scattering of photons, which exchange energy with the measured object, changing its state. The heat produced in such interactions is problematic for atom-based quantum information processing. However, energy exchange of this type is not a fundamental requirement of quantum mechanics, and Jakob Reichel and colleagues now show that, by confining an atom in an optical cavity, they can circumvent the problem of spontaneous scattering. The strong coupling of the atom to the cavity allows the state of the atom to be probed by sensing the interaction of light with the cavity. In effect, the photons measure the atom without entering the cavity. Besides its fundamental interest, this technique could simplify proposed neutral atom quantum computation schemes, and may enable sensitive detection of molecules and atoms lacking closed transitions.

Date: 2011
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DOI: 10.1038/nature10225

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