Quantum dynamics of an atom orbiting around an optical nanofiber

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new platform using laser-cooled atoms orbiting an optical nanofiber to study quantum wave packet dynamics, demonstrating phenomena like collapse and revival with tunable dispersion.

Contribution

It presents a novel experimental setup for observing quantum wave packet dynamics with advantages over existing methods, including tunability and ease of measurement.

Findings

Observation of collapse and revival of atomic wave packets

Tunable dispersion relation for atomic motion

Feasible implementation with current quantum optics techniques

Abstract

We propose a novel platform for the investigation of quantum wave packet dynamics, offering a complementary approach to existing theoretical models and experimental systems. It relies on laser-cooled neutral atoms which orbit around an optical nanofiber in an optical potential produced by a red-detuned guided light field. We show that the atomic center-of-mass motion exhibits genuine quantum effects like collapse and revival of the atomic wave packet. As distinctive advantages, our approach features a tunable dispersion relation as well as straightforward readout for the wave packet dynamics and can be implemented using existing quantum optics techniques.