State-dependent fluorescence of neutral atoms in optical potentials

TL;DR

This paper improves state-dependent fluorescence detection of neutral atoms in optical traps by modeling atom dynamics, reducing heating effects, and demonstrating that off-resonant light enhances detection fidelity in tightly confined potentials.

Contribution

It provides experimental procedures, models, and analysis to mitigate heating and leakage, advancing high-fidelity, non-destructive atom state detection techniques.

Findings

Off-resonant light reduces heating during fluorescence imaging.

Monte Carlo simulations agree with experimental results.

Optimized detection improves fidelity in optical dipole traps.

Abstract

Recently we have demonstrated scalable, non-destructive, and high-fidelity detection of the internal state of $^{87}$Rb neutral atoms in optical dipole traps using state-dependent fluorescence imaging [M. Martinez-Dorantes et al., PRL, 2017]. In this article we provide experimental procedures and interpretations to overcome the detrimental effects of heating-induced trap losses and state leakage. We present models for the dynamics of optically trapped atoms during state-dependent fluorescence imaging and verify our results by comparing Monte Carlo simulations with experimental data. Our systematic study of dipole force fluctuations heating in optical traps during near-resonant illumination shows that off-resonant light is preferable for state detection in tightly confining optical potentials.