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UEC Int’l Mini-Conference No.53 41

STRUCTURED LIGHT MEETS ULTRA-COLD ATOMS

a,b
a,b
Urgunoon SALEEM *, Yoko MIYAMOTO & Haruka TANJI-SUZUKI c
Department of Engineering Science, the University of Electro-Communications a
b
Institute for Advanced Science, the University of Electro-Communications
Institute for Laser Science, the University of Electro-Communications c
1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo, 182-8585, Japan

Keywords: Orbital Angular Moment (OAM) Light, Vortex Beams, Magneto-Optical Trap (MOT), Ultra-Cold Atoms

Abstract

Light carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) has emerged as a powerful tool in optical
manipulation, quantum communication, and fundamental studies of light-matter interactions.
OAM beams can be generated using various techniques, including spiral phase plates, q-plates,
and computer-generated holograms. In this work, we employ a spatial light modulator (SLM)
to generate high-order Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) beams and investigate their interaction with
laser-cooled rubidium atoms in a magneto-optical trap (MOT). Through laser cooling, we
bring neutral atoms down to temperatures around or below the millikelvin (mK) range, where
thermal motion is significantly reduced. The interplay between structured light and ultra-cold
atoms holds exciting potential for novel quantum optical phenomena, including spatially
structured transparency via electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and enhanced
atom-light interactions. This research paves the way for advancements in precision
measurements and cold atom-based quantum technologies.

*The author is supported by (SESS) MEXT Scholarship