IQIM Postdoctoral and Graduate Student Seminar

Abstract: New opportunities for optical physics emerge from the integration of cold atoms with nanophotonic devices. Due to their small optical loss and tight field confinement, these nanoscale dielectric devices are capable of mediating strong atom-light interactions, thereby opening avenues for novel quantum transport and quantum many-body phenomena. Operating in the band-gap of a 1D photonic crystal waveguide results in tunable finite-range atom-atom interactions which are mediated by the guided mode photons.  At the same time, the dissipation into the structure is suppressed exponentially.  In our experiment, atoms are trapped 140 nm above the surface of an 'Alligator' photonic crystal waveguide, and the atoms are probed using the guided modes.  We discuss recent measurements of the atom-atom interaction rate as the device is tuned into the band-gap.