Cavity cooling using intense blue-detuned light

Abstract

We investigate the possibility of cooling an atomic gas enclosed in an optical cavity using blue-detuned laser light of sufficient intensity that excitation of the atoms cannot be neglected. We consider an ensemble of two-level atoms confined inside a simple Fabry-Perot cavity in two different geometric configurations: in one ('cavity-pump' configuration) the pump field is directed along the cavity axis and in the other ('atom-pump' configuration) the pump field is directed perpendicular to the cavity axis. Numerical simulations of the semi-classical models for each configuration are compared. Both configurations demonstrate cooling using a blue-detuned pump field. It is shown that in the cavity-pump configuration there is no collective enhancement of the cooling rate over that of free space blue-cooling. In contrast, the atom-pump configuration demonstrates collective enhancement of the cooling rate and intracavity field intensity

Cavity-mediated collective laser-cooling of a non-interacting atomic gas inside an asymmetric trap to very low temperatures

“…Combining Eqs. (9), (10), (21) and (26), we find that the vibrational energy of a single atomic particle equals…”

“…The theory of cavity-mediated laser cooling of free particles was first discussed by Mossberg et al [15] and Zaugg et al [16]. Later, Ritsch and collaborators [17,18] and others [19][20][21] developed semiclassical theories to model cavity-mediated cooling processes. In 1993, Cirac et al [22] introduced a master equation approach to analyse cavity-mediated laser-cooling in more detail.…”

New cooling mechanisms for atoms and molecules

“…The following contributions address a wide range of aspects of cooling, including buffer gas and cavity-mediated cooling. They report recent experiments [1,2] as well as recent theoretical progress towards an improved understanding and the identification of optimal routes to practicality [3][4][5][6]. We especially highlight close connections between theory and experiment in the development of new cooling mechanisms, which will ensure their development as broad enabling technologies with applications which range from quantum information processing and metrology to coherent molecular physics and chemistry.…”

“…In addition, the cooling rate can be improved significantly by modulating experimental parameters. Hemmerling and Robb [5] moreover investigate the possibility of cooling an atomic gas inside an optical cavity using blue-detuned laser light. The authors study two different scenarios: a 'cavity-pump' and an 'atom-pump' configuration.…”

Rate-equation approach to cavity-mediated laser cooling

“…[25,26]. Later, Ritsch and collaborators [27][28][29][30][31], Vuletić et al [32,33], and others [34][35][36][37] developed semiclassical theories to model cavity-mediated cooling processes very efficiently. The analysis of cavity-mediated laser cooling based on a master equation approach was pioneered by Cirac et al [38] in 1993.…”