Towards quantum and non-linear optics with buffer-gas cooled atoms and molecules

POSTER

Abstract

We report on our progress towards using buffer-gas cooling to produce cold coherent optical media with high optical depth. Helium buffer gas is used to cool to a few Kelvin a continuous stream of Rb atoms produced in an oven. While the first experimental demonstration will focus on electromagnetically induced transparency in Rb, we envision a variety of applications, ranging from nonlinear and quantum optics to precision measurements, with atomic or molecular species that are much more difficult to cool using other methods.

Authors

  • Sofia Magkiriadou

    • Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms

  • Dave Patterson

    • Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms

  • Alexey Gorshkov

    • Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms

  • Alexander Zibrov

    • Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms
    • Harvard University
    • Physics Department, Harvard University
    • Harvard

  • Mikhail D. Lukin

    • Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms
    • Harvard University
    • Physics Department, Harvard University, Cambridge-MA, 20138.
    • Harvard
    • Department of Physics, Harvard University

  • John Doyle

    • Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms