Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Fabrication and Operation of a Nano-Optical Conveyor Belt
Published on: August 26, 2015
Determination of the number of atoms trapped in an optical cavity
J McKeever1, J R Buck, A D Boozer
1Norman Bridge Laboratory of Physics 12-33, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.
Abstract:
The number of atoms trapped within the mode of an optical cavity is determined in real time by monitoring the transmission of a weak probe beam. Continuous observation of atom number is accomplished in the strong coupling regime of cavity quantum electrodynamics and functions in concert with a cooling scheme for radial atomic motion. The probe transmission exhibits sudden steps from one plateau to the next in response to the time evolution of the intracavity atom number, from N>or=3 to N=2-->1-->0 atoms, with some trapping events lasting over 1 s.
Related Concept Videos
The de Broglie Wavelength
Imaging Biological Samples with Optical Microscopy
In optical microscopy, the specimen to be viewed is placed on a glass slide and clipped on the stage...
Mass Analyzers: Common Types
Determination of Crystal Structures

