Atomic self-trapping and cooling in a single-atom laser

Abstract

Using quantum wavefunction simulations, the dynamics of an inverted two-level atom strongly coupled to a mode of an optical high-Q resonator is investigated. It is found that the generated laser light attracts the atom to field antinodes and cools its motion if the cavity mode eigenfrequency is larger than the atomic transition frequency. The system is treated via the Heisenberg-Langevin equations (HLE) and derive analytic expressions for the photon number, the force acting on the atom, and the atomic equilibrium temperature.