Long working distance objective lenses for single atom trapping and imaging.

Area of Science:

• Optical Engineering
• Microscopy Instrumentation
• Atomic Physics

Background:

• High-resolution imaging through vacuum windows is critical for experiments involving alkali atoms like Cesium (Cs) and Rubidium (Rb).
• Existing objective lenses often have limited working distances or are not optimized for specific atomic wavelengths, posing challenges for experimental setups.
• The need for cost-effective and versatile optical solutions persists in scientific imaging applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and present a pair of optimized objective lenses with extended working distances.
• To achieve diffraction-limited optical performance at both Cs and Rb wavelengths for imaging through standard vacuum windows.
• To offer a simple, cost-effective solution using readily available catalog lens elements.

Main Methods:

• Utilized optical design software to optimize lens element configurations.
• Focused on achieving long working distances (117 mm and 65 mm) while maintaining diffraction-limited performance.
• Employed standard, catalog lens elements for simplicity and cost-effectiveness.

Main Results:

• Developed two objective lenses offering diffraction-limited performance at Cs and Rb wavelengths.
• Objective 1: Numerical Aperture (NA) = 0.175, providing 3 μm resolution.
• Objective 2: NA = 0.29, optimized for high collection efficiency, achieving 1.8 μm resolution.

Conclusions:

• The presented objective lenses provide a practical and economical solution for imaging through vacuum windows at Cs and Rb wavelengths.
• The flexible design allows for potential adaptation to shorter wavelengths by adjusting lens separations.
• These lenses enhance imaging capabilities in scientific applications requiring long working distances and specific spectral performance.