Nondestructive light-shift measurements of single atoms in optical dipole traps

Abstract

We measure the AC-Stark shifts of the 5S{1/2}, F=2 to 5P{3/2}, F'=3 transitions of individual optically trapped 87Rb atoms using a non-destructive detection technique that allows us to measure the fluorescent signal of one-and-the-same atom for over 60 seconds. These measurements allow efficient and rapid characterization of single atom traps that is required for many coherent quantum information protocols. Although this method is demonstrated using a single atom trap, the concept is readily extended to resolvable atomic arrays.