Definitive number of atoms on demand: Controlling the number of atoms in a few-atom magneto-optical trap

摘要

A few ~(85)Rb atoms were trapped in a micron-size magneto-optical trap with a high quadrupole magnetic-field gradient and the number of atoms was precisely controlled by suppressing stochastic loading and loss events via real-time feedback on the magnetic-field gradient. The measured occupation probability of a single atom was as high as 99%. Atoms up to five were also trapped with high occupation probabilities. The present technique could be used to make a deterministic atom source.