Single-photon single-ion interaction in free space configuration in front of a parabolic mirror

TL;DR

This paper investigates how a parabolic mirror influences the interaction between a single photon and a single ion in free space, focusing on mode structure, polarization effects, and emission rates for quantum technology applications.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of free-space single-photon and single-ion interactions near a parabolic mirror, including polarization effects and emission rate modifications.

Findings

Conditions for justified free-space mode assumptions identified

Polarization effects on light-matter interaction analyzed

Changes in spontaneous emission rate due to boundary conditions observed

Abstract

The efficient interaction between single photons and single matter objects in free space is of key importance for quantum technologies. An experimental setup for testing this possibility involves single two-level ion trapped at the focus of a parabolic metallic mirror. We study the conditions for the setup, under which the assumption about the free-space mode structure of the radiation field in the vicinity of the atom is justified. In our analysis we apply vectorial properties of light by including polarization degree of freedom. We look for possible changes in the spontaneous emission rate of the atom resulting from the presence of the parabolic boundary conditions.