Highly Efficient State-Selective Submicrosecond Photoionization Detection of Single Atoms

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Thu, 2011-01-13 19:11 - Markus Weber

Date:

2010-12-17 - 2011-01-13

Reference:

F. Henkel, M. Krug, J. Hofmann, W. Rosenfeld, M. Weber, and H. Weinfurter
Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 253001 (2010)
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.253001

We experimentally demonstrate a detection scheme suitable for state analysis of single optically trapped atoms in less than 1 μs with an overall detection efficiency η exceeding 98%. The method is based on hyperfine-state-selective photoionization and subsequent registration of the correlated photoion-electron pairs by coincidence counting via two opposing channel electron multipliers. The scheme enables the calibration of absolute detection efficiencies and might be a key ingredient for future quantum information applications or precision spectroscopy of ultracold atoms.