Deterministic coupling of a single atom to a nanoscale optical cavity

• Main Authors: Thompson, J. D. (Author), de Leon, N. P. (Author), Feist, J. (Author), Akimov, A. V. (Author), Gullans, Michael (Author), Zibrov, A. S. (Author), Lukin, M. D. (Author), Vuletic, Vladan (Contributor), Tiecke, Tobias G. (Author)
• Other Authors: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics (Contributor), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Research Laboratory of Electronics (Contributor), MIT-Harvard Center for Ultracold Atoms (Contributor), Tiecke, T. G. (Contributor)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), 2014-11-21T18:53:52Z.
• Subjects: Article
• Online Access: Get fulltext

 Hybrid quantum devices, in which dissimilar quantum systems are combined in order to attain qualities not available with either system alone, may enable far-reaching control in quantum measurement, sensing, and information processing. A paradigmatic example is trapped ultracold atoms, which offer excellent quantum coherent properties, coupled to nanoscale solid-state systems, which allow for strong interactions. We demonstrate a deterministic interface between a single trapped rubidium atom and a nanoscale photonic crystal cavity. Precise control over the atom's position allows us to probe the cavity near-field with a resolution below the diffraction limit and to observe large atom-photon coupling. This approach may enable the realization of integrated, strongly coupled quantum nano-optical circuits.