01247nas a2200169 4500008004100000245005400041210005400095260001500149300001200164520072500176100002400901700002000925700002100945700001600966700001800982856007701000 2016 eng d00aHigh resolution adaptive imaging of a single atom0 aHigh resolution adaptive imaging of a single atom c2016/07/18 a606-6103 a
We report the optical imaging of a single atom with nanometer resolution using an adaptive optical alignment technique that is applicable to general optical microscopy. By decomposing the image of a single laser-cooled atom, we identify and correct optical aberrations in the system and realize an atomic position sensitivity of ≈ 0.5 nm/Hz−−−√ with a minimum uncertainty of 1.7 nm, allowing the direct imaging of atomic motion. This is the highest position sensitivity ever measured for an isolated atom, and opens up the possibility of performing out-of-focus 3D particle tracking, imaging of atoms in 3D optical lattices or sensing forces at the yoctonewton (10−24 N) scale.
1 aWong-Campos, J., D.1 aJohnson, K., G.1 aNeyenhuis, Brian1 aMizrahi, J.1 aMonroe, Chris uhttps://www.nature.com/nphoton/journal/v10/n9/full/nphoton.2016.136.html