Coupling ultracold atoms to mechanical oscillators

David Hunger; Stephan Camerer; Maria Korppi; Andreas Jöckel; Theodor W. Hänsch; Philipp Treutlein

doi:10.1016/j.crhy.2011.04.015

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arXiv · 1103.1820

Coupling ultracold atoms to mechanical oscillators

David Hunger·Stephan Camerer·Maria Korppi·Andreas Jöckel·Theodor W. Hänsch·Philipp Treutlein

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Abstract

In this article we discuss and compare different ways to engineer an interface between ultracold atoms and micro- and nanomechanical oscillators. We start by analyzing a direct mechanical coupling of a single atom or ion to a mechanical oscillator and show that the very different masses of the two systems place a limit on the achievable coupling constant in this scheme. We then discuss several promising strategies for enhancing the coupling: collective enhancement by using a large number of atoms in an optical lattice in free space, coupling schemes based on high-finesse optical cavities, and coupling to atomic internal states. Throughout the manuscript we discuss both theoretical proposals and first experimental implementations.

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David Hunger, Stephan Camerer, Maria Korppi, Andreas Jöckel, Theodor W. Hänsch, Philipp Treutlein. 2011-03-09. Coupling ultracold atoms to mechanical oscillators. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crhy.2011.04.015

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