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Single trapped ions interacting with low‐ and high‐finesse optical cavities
Author(s) -
Eschner J.,
Raab C.,
Mundt A.,
Kreuter A.,
Becher C.,
SchmidtKaler F.,
Blatt R.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
fortschritte der physik
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.469
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1521-3978
pISSN - 0015-8208
DOI - 10.1002/prop.200310049
Subject(s) - finesse , ion , atomic physics , physics , coupling (piping) , trapped ion quantum computer , cavity quantum electrodynamics , atom (system on chip) , spontaneous emission , qubit , optical cavity , quantum entanglement , optics , quantum , laser , materials science , quantum network , quantum mechanics , fabry–pérot interferometer , open quantum system , computer science , metallurgy , embedded system
The presence of mirrors modifies both the coherent coupling of an atom to a light mode and its spontaneous emission into the mode [1]. We study such cavity QED effects experimentally with single ions and optical cavities. We focus on two examples which are equally interesting as fundamental systems and for application in quantum information processing. (i) By retroreflecting the fluorescence of a single trapped Ba + ion with a mirror 25 cm away, we observe inhibition and enhancement of the atom's spontaneous emission. When two ions are trapped, the distant mirror creates super‐ and subradiance. (ii) With a single trapped Ca + ion we demonstrate coherent coupling of its narrow S 1/2 – D 5/2 “qubit” transition to a mode of a high‐finesse optical cavity. We also achieve deterministic coupling of the cavity standing wave to the ion's vibrational state by controlling the ion's position with nanometer‐precision and selectively exciting vibrational state‐changing transitions.