Observation of Superradiant and Subradiant Spontaneous Emission of Two Trapped Ions

R. G. DeVoe and R. G. Brewer
Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 2049 – Published 18 March 1996
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Abstract

We report the first observation of a microscopically resolved interaction between two trapped atoms. This is also the first observation of two-ion superradiance and subradiance, the most elementary example of Dicke's theory. Its signature is the variation of the spontaneous emission decay rate of a laser-cooled two-ion crystal, +1.5% and 1.2%, as the ion-ion distance is changed from 1380 to 1540 nm, in agreement with a no-free-parameter theory. The experiment uses an ion microtrap (80 μm radius) with planar electrodes and a new few-atom technique for measuring lifetimes.

  • Received 19 October 1995

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.76.2049

©1996 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

R. G. DeVoe and R. G. Brewer

  • IBM Research Division, Almaden Research Center, 650 Harry Road, San Jose, California 95120-6099

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Issue

Vol. 76, Iss. 12 — 18 March 1996

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