Rotating single atoms in a ring lattice generated by a spatial light modulator

We demonstrated trapping single neutral Rb atoms in microtraps of an optical ring lattice formed by superposing the ±l componentsof the Laguerre-Gaussian mode, and generated by reflecting a single laserbeam from a computer controlled spatial light modulator. A single atomin one trap or two atoms with one each in two traps were identified byobserving the fluorescence. The trap array loaded with single atoms wasrotated by dynamically displaying the hologram animation movie on themodulator. The modulation period in the fluorescence indicates the rotationof one or two single atoms in the lattice. ©2009 Optical Society of America

(As supplied by publisher.)