In situ characterization of an optical cavity using atomic light shift

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates in situ mapping of an optical potential inside a cavity using atomic light shifts, enabling precise characterization for trapping rubidium atoms and potential Bose-Einstein condensation.

Contribution

It introduces a method to characterize optical potentials in cavities using atomic light shifts, providing a new tool for quantum optics experiments.

Findings

Optical potential mapped in situ with atomic spectral resolution

Potential suitable for trapping rubidium atoms

Potential pathway to Bose-Einstein condensation in the cavity

Abstract

We report the precise characterization of the optical potential obtained by injecting a distributed-feedback erbium-doped fiber laser (DFB EDFL) at 1560 nm to the transversal modes of a folded optical cavity. The optical potential was mapped in situ using cold rubidium atoms, whose potential energy was spectrally resolved thanks to the strong differential light shift induced by the 1560 nm laser on the two levels of the probe transition. The optical potential obtained in the cavity is suitable for trapping rubidium atoms, and eventually to achieve all-optical Bose-Einstein condensation directly in the resonator.