Quantum dynamics of an atom orbiting around an optical nanofiber

Abstract

We propose a novel platform for the investigation of quantum wave packet dynamics, offering a complementary approach to existing theoretical models and experimental systems. It relies on laser-cooled neutral atoms which orbit around an optical nanofiber in an optical potential produced by a red-detuned guided light field. We show that the atomic center-of-mass motion exhibits genuine quantum effects like collapse and revival of the atomic wave packet. As distinctive advantages, our approach features a tunable dispersion relation as well as straightforward readout for the wave packet dynamics and can be implemented using existing quantum optics techniques.