The Microlaser: Study of Laser Oscillation with One Atom in AN Optical Resonator.

This thesis describes the first realization of one-atom laser, a laser oscillator with only one atom in an optical resonator. In our experiment a beam of ^{138}Ba atoms traverses a high -Q optical cavity with a finesse of 8times10 ^5. The atoms are excited from the ^1S_0 ground state to the ^3P_1 (m = 0) excited state by a pi-pulse before they enter the cavity. Laser oscillation at 791 nm (^3P_1--> ^1S_0 ) has been observed with the mean number of atoms inside the cavity mode varied between 0.1 and 1.0, resulting in the mean number of photons inside the cavity changing from 0.14 to 11. To understand the data quantitatively, two different theoretical approaches were taken. First a pendulum equation based on the Maxwell-Schrodinger equation provides physical insights on the evolution of the one -atom laser with limited success in predicting correct signal size. Second approach is based on a fully-quantized one -atom theory. In this approach, a new photon recursion relation for the field density matrix was derived. Combined with a simple modification needed for the standing wave nature of the cavity mode, the quantum theory is in good agreement with the experiment. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617 -253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.).