The phase shift induced by a single atom in free space

Abstract

In this article we theoretically study the phase shift a single atom imprints onto a coherent state light beam in free space. The calculations are performed in a semiclassical framework. The key parameters governing the interaction and thus the measurable phase shift are the solid angle from which the light is focused onto the atom and the overlap of the incident radiation with the atomic dipole radiation pattern. The analysis includes saturation effects and discusses the associated Kerr-type non-linearity of a single atom.

6 pages, 5 figures

References in corpus (11)

• Efficient coupling of photons to a single molecule and the observation of its resonance fluorescence
• Perfect Reflection of Light by an Oscillating Dipole
• Design of a mode converter for efficient light-atom coupling in free space
• Phase shift of a weak coherent beam induced by a single atom
• Interfacing light and single atoms with a lens
• Dispersive Optical Interface Based on Nanofiber-Trapped Atoms
• Absorption imaging of a single atom
• Generation of a wave packet tailored to efficient free space excitation of a single atom
• Gouy phase for full-aperture spherical and cylindrical waves
• Controllable optical phase shift over one radian from a single isolated atom
• Faraday rotation of a tightly focussed beam from a single trapped atom

Cited by in corpus (5)

• Non-Markovian features in semiconductor quantum optics: Quantifying the role of phonons in experiment and theory
• Efficient saturation of an ion in free space
• Shifting the phase of a coherent beam with a ${}^{174}$Yb${}^{+}$ ion: influence of the scattering cross section
• Generation of entangled matter qubits in two opposing parabolic mirrors
• Ground State Excitation of an Atom Strongly Coupled to a Free Quantum Field