High-quality-factor microring resonator for strong atom-light interactions using miniature atomic beams.

Area of Science:

• Quantum optics
• Integrated photonics
• Atomic physics

Background:

• Achieving strong interactions between atoms and light is crucial for quantum technologies.
• High-quality microresonators are key components for enhancing light-matter interactions.
• Previous methods often required high-temperature annealing, limiting integration with electronic circuits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and demonstrate an integrated photonic platform for strong interactions between atomic beams and microresonators.
• To achieve high-quality factors in microresonators without high-temperature annealing.
• To enable scalable single-atom photonic devices.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a thin-film, air-clad silicon nitride (SiN) microresonator.
• Characterization of the microresonator's quality factor (Q) around the 87Rb optical transition at 780 nm.
• Simulation of interactions between atomic beams and the microresonator, including racetrack resonators.

Main Results:

• A loaded Q of 1.55×10^6 was achieved without annealing.
• The estimated single-photon Rabi frequency (2g) is 2π×64 MHz.
• Simulations show strong interactions for atomic beams with speeds from 0.2 m/s to 30 m/s.

Conclusions:

• The developed annealing-free microresonator platform facilitates strong atom-light interactions.
• This approach enables the detection of single-atom transits and the creation of scalable single-atom photonic devices.
• The platform is compatible with future integrated optoelectronic circuitry.