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Measurement of the separation between atoms beyond diffraction limit

Jun-Tao Chang, Jörg Evers, Marlan O. Scully, and M. Suhail Zubairy
Phys. Rev. A 73, 031803(R) – Published 10 March 2006

Abstract

Precision measurement of small separations between two atoms or molecules has been of interest since the early days of science. Here, we discuss a scheme which yields spatial information on a system of two identical atoms placed in a standing wave laser field. The information is extracted from the collective resonance fluorescence spectrum, relying entirely on far-field imaging techniques. Both the interatomic separation and the positions of the two particles can be measured with fractional-wavelength precision over a wide range of distances from about λ550 to λ2.

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  • Received 6 June 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.73.031803

©2006 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Jun-Tao Chang1, Jörg Evers1,2, Marlan O. Scully1,3, and M. Suhail Zubairy1,*

  • 1Institute for Quantum Studies and Department of Physics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-4242, USA
  • 2Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany
  • 3Princeton Institute for Materials Research, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544-1009, USA

  • *Electronic address: zubairy@physics.tamu.edu

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Issue

Vol. 73, Iss. 3 — March 2006

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