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Free keywords:
SINGLE-MOLECULE; ATOM; EXCITATION; LIGHT; TRAPOptics; Physics;
Abstract:
We report on the demonstration of a lightmatter interface coupling light to a single Yb-174(+) ion in free space. The interface is realized through a parabolic mirror partially surrounding the ion. It transforms a La-guerre- Gaussian beam into a linear dipole wave converging at the mirror's focus. By measuring the non-linear response of the atomic transition, we deduce the power required for reaching an upper-level population of 1/4 to be 692 +/- 20pW at half linewidth detuning from the atomic resonance. Performing this measurement while scanning the ion through the focus provides a map of the focal intensity distribution. From the measured power, we infer a coupling efficiency of 7.2 +/- 0.2% on the linear dipole transition when illuminating from half solid angle, being among the best coupling efficiencies reported for a single atom in free space.
