Single Atoms in an Optical Dipole Trap: Towards a Deterministic Source of Cold Atoms

Frese, D.; Ueberholz, B.; Kuhr, S.; Alt, W.; Schrader, D.; Gomer, V.; Meschede, D.

Single Atoms in an Optical Dipole Trap: Towards a Deterministic Source of Cold Atoms

Authors

Description

We describe a simple experimental technique which allows us to store a small and deterministic number of neutral atoms in an optical dipole trap. The desired atom number is prepared in a magneto-optical trap overlapped with a single focused Nd:YAG laser beam. Dipole trap loading efficiency of 100 % and storage times of about one minute have been achieved. We have also prepared atoms in a certain hyperfine state and demonstrated the feasibility of a state-selective detection via resonance fluorescence at the level of a few neutral atoms. A spin relaxation time of the polarized sample of $4.2\pm 0.7$ s has been measured. Possible applications are briefly discussed.
LaTeX 2e, 4 pages, 5 Postscript figures, revised version for publication in PRL. One figure changed for greater clarity