High Resolution Imaging of Single Trapped Yb+ Ions Using A Phase Fresnel Lens

The thesis describes the use of a high numerical aperture phase Fresnel lens for high resolution ion imaging and scalable fluorescence collection. We have demonstrated the first step towards fabricating and integrating a scalable collection optic with an ion trap with applications towards large scale ion trap quantum computers. I outline the use of the lens for capturing high resolution images of trapped ions. Using these high resolution images we have demonstrated spatial thermometry, a thermometry technique which relies on imaging the small changes in the ion spot size as the ion temperature changes. By adding a beam propagating along the optic axis of the imaging system we have also been able to use the high resolution imaging system to observe the absorption image from a single atom. We have verified that the contrast of the absorption images was the maximum achievable with our imaging system according to theory. Finally, using the absorption images we have been able to observe the phase shift of the light scattered by the atom with respect to the illumination field. The observed phase shift was found to be the maximum allowed by theory.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School of Biomolecular and Pysical Sciences
Science, Environment, Engineering and Technology
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