Single atom detection and non-classical photon correlations [Elektronische Ressource] / presented by Dennis Heine

Dissertationsubmitted to theCombined Faculties for the Natural Sciences and for Mathematicsof the Ruperto-Carola University of Heidelberg, Germanyfor the degree ofDoctor of Natural Sciencespresented byDipl.-Phys. Dennis Heineborn in Minden(Westfalen), GermanythOral examination: July 16 , 2008Single Atom DetectionandNon-Classical Photon CorrelationsThis dissertation was carried out at thePhysikalisches Institut, Universitat Heidelbergand theAtominstitut der Osterreichischen Universitaten, TU WienRefereesProf. Dr. orgJ SchmiedmayerProf. Dr. Christoph CremerAbstractIn this thesis a reliable and robust single atom detector is presented, characterised andapplied to measure the uorescence emission of single atoms.The detector consists of a tapered single mode excitation bre and a multi mode87detection bre, both integrated on an atom chip. Single neutral Rb atoms propa-gating freely in a 1D magnetic guide can be detected with an e ciency of 66% due tohighly selective excitation and matched detection region.The detector allows to identify the statistical distribution of the atoms, which, forthe current experiments, was proven to be Poissonian. Non-classical correlations inthe photon emission from a single atom have been measured, showing a perfect photonanti-bunching. Rabi oscillations of the correlation function have been observed andproven to be in excellent agreement with theoretical expectations.