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High Resolution Phonon-assisted Quasi-resonance Fluorescence Spectroscopy
Published on: June 28, 2016
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Time-resolved scattering of a single photon by a single atom.
Victor Leong1,2, Mathias Alexander Seidler1, Matthias Steiner1,2
1Centre for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117543, Singapore.
Nature Communications
|November 30, 2016
Summary
Researchers explored single photon-atom scattering, finding that tailoring a single photon's temporal profile precisely controls photon-atom interactions, increasing peak atomic excitation by 56%.
Area of Science:
- Quantum optics
- Atomic physics
- Photon-matter interactions
Background:
- Light scattering by matter is well-studied.
- Single photon-single atom scattering remains largely unexplored.
- Quantum optics predicts deterministic photon absorption by an atom if photon waveform matches the time-reversed spontaneous emission.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally investigate the prediction of deterministic single photon-atom absorption.
- To explore the influence of a single photon's temporal profile on scattering dynamics.
- To demonstrate control over photon-atom interactions by tailoring photon envelopes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a single trapped atom and heralded single photons.
- Performed time-resolved measurements of atomic excitation.
- Compared scattering dynamics for photons with different temporal profiles (rising vs. decaying).
Main Results:
- Observed a 56(11)% increase in peak atomic excitation for exponentially rising photon profiles compared to decaying ones.
- Found no significant change in overall scattering probability within experimental uncertainty.
- Demonstrated that the photon's temporal envelope critically affects the interaction dynamics.
Conclusions:
- Envelope tailoring of single photons provides precise control over photon-atom interactions.
- Experimental results align with quantum optics predictions regarding photon waveform matching.
- Highlights a method for manipulating quantum interactions at the single-photon level.
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