Quantum jumps induced by the center-of-mass motion of a trapped atom

• Published in: The European physical journal. D, Atomic, molecular, and optical physics Vol. 61; no. 1; pp. 21 - 32
• Main Authors: Torres, J. M., Bienert, M., Zippilli, S., Morigi, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 2011; EDP Sciences
• Subjects: Applications of Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos Theory; Atomic; Atomic and molecular physics; Atomic properties and interactions with photons; Exact sciences and technology; Molecular; Optical and Plasma Physics; Optical cooling of atoms; trapping; Photon interactions with atoms; Physical Chemistry; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Quantum Information Technology; Quantum Physics; Spectroscopy/Spectrometry; Spintronics; Dark Period; Trap Atom; Atomic Motion; Laser Cool; Trap Center; Quantum optics; Resonance fluorescence; Atom trapping; Quantum jump
• ISSN: 1434-6060; 1434-6079
• DOI: 10.1140/epjd/e2010-10387-4

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We theoretically study the occurrence of quantum jumps in the resonance fluorescence of a trapped atom. Here, the atom is laser cooled in a configuration of level such that the occurrence of a quantum jump is associated to a change of the vibrational center-of-mass motion by one phonon. The statistics of the occurrence of the dark fluorescence period is studied as a function of the physical parameters and the corresponding features in the spectrum of resonance fluorescence are identified. We discuss the information which can be extracted on the atomic motion from the observation of a quantum jump in the considered setup.