Detection Of Single Atoms And Measurement Of Their Motion By The Photon Burst Method

W. M. Fairbank Jr.; C. Y. She; J. V. Prodan

doi:10.1117/12.965820

8 September 1981 Detection Of Single Atoms And Measurement Of Their Motion By The Photon Burst Method

W. M. Fairbank Jr., C. Y. She, J. V. Prodan

Proceedings Volume 0286, Laser Spectroscopy for Sensitive Detection; (1981) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.965820
Event: 1981 Technical Symposium East, 1981, Washington, D.C., United States

Abstract

Using a digital correlator, we record the burst of photons emitted by a single atom as it passes through a resonant laser beam. A high efficiency light collection system allows us to register many counts from each atom. The transit time of the atom across the laser beam is computed from the displayed autocorrelation function. By averaging over many atoms, we determine diffusion coefficients for ground state sodium in helium, neon and argon. We have also used this technique to measure rapid flow speeds of gases.

Citation Download Citation

W. M. Fairbank Jr., C. Y. She, and J. V. Prodan "Detection Of Single Atoms And Measurement Of Their Motion By The Photon Burst Method", Proc. SPIE 0286, Laser Spectroscopy for Sensitive Detection, (8 September 1981); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.965820

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