Atom-Light Interactions in Photonic Crystals

Authors :: Goban, A.
Hung, C. -L.
Yu, S. -P.
Hood, J. D.
Muniz, J. A.
Lee, J. H.
Martin, M. J.
McClung, A. C.
Choi, K. S.
Chang, D. E.
Painter, O.
Kimble, H. J.
Publication Year :: 2013
Abstract: The integration of nanophotonics and atomic physics has been a long-sought goal that would open new frontiers for optical physics. Here, we report the development of the first integrated optical circuit with a photonic crystal capable of both localizing and interfacing atoms with guided photons in the device. By aligning the optical bands of a photonic crystal waveguide (PCW) with selected atomic transitions, our platform provides new opportunities for novel quantum transport and many-body phenomena by way of photon-mediated atomic interactions along the PCW. From reflection spectra measured with average atom number N = 1.1$\pm$0.4, we infer that atoms are localized within the PCW by Casimir-Polder and optical dipole forces. The fraction of single-atom radiative decay into the PCW is $\Gamma_{\rm 1D}/\Gamma'$ = 0.32$\pm$0.08, where $\Gamma_{1D}$ is the rate of emission into the guided mode and $\Gamma'$ is the decay rate into all other channels. $\Gamma_{\rm 1D}/\Gamma'$ is quoted without enhancement due to an external cavity and is unprecedented in all current atom-photon interfaces.<br />Comment: 11 pages, 12 figures