Cold-atom shaping with MEMS scanning mirrors

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the use of MEMS scanning mirrors to precisely control and shape ultra-cold atom clouds in a magneto-optical trap, enabling applications in quantum optics and portable quantum devices.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method of using MEMS mirrors for spatially-selective optical control of cold atoms, advancing miniaturization and portability of quantum optical systems.

Findings

Successful 2D control of atom cloud patterns

Demonstrated spatially-selective fluorescence imaging

Potential for portable quantum optical devices

Abstract

We demonstrate the integration of micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) scanning mirrors as active elements for the local optical pumping of ultra-cold atoms in a magneto-optical trap. A pair of MEMS mirrors steer a focused resonant beam through a cloud of trapped atoms shelved in the \textit{F}=1 ground-state of \textsuperscript{87}Rb for spatially-selective fluorescence of the atom cloud. Two-dimensional control is demonstrated by forming geometrical patterns along the imaging axis of the cold atom ensemble. Such control of the atomic ensemble with a microfabricated mirror pair could find applications in single atom selection, local optical pumping and arbitrary cloud shaping. This approach has significant potential for miniaturisation and in creating portable control systems for quantum optic experiments.