Generation of a wave packet tailored to efficient free space excitation of a single atom

TL;DR

This paper presents a method to generate a tailored optical wave packet that efficiently couples single photons to single atoms in free space, using a parabolic mirror and precise mode shaping.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach combining spatial and temporal mode shaping with mirror aberration correction to optimize atom-photon coupling efficiency.

Findings

Achieved coupling strengths of 89% for single photon-atom interactions.

Demonstrated successful correction of mirror aberrations.

Created a temporal pulse envelope suitable for atomic excitation.

Abstract

We demonstrate the generation of an optical dipole wave suitable for the process of efficiently coupling single quanta of light and matter in free space. We employ a parabolic mirror for the conversion of a transverse beam mode to a focused dipole wave and show the required spatial and temporal shaping of the mode incident onto the mirror. The results include a proof of principle correction of the parabolic mirror's aberrations. For the application of exciting an atom with a single photon pulse we demonstrate the creation of a suitable temporal pulse envelope. We infer coupling strengths of 89% and success probabilities of up to 87% for the application of exciting a single atom for the current experimental parameters.