Realization of strong coupling between deterministic single-atom arrays and a high-finesse miniature optical cavity

Abstract

We experimentally demonstrate strong coupling between a one-dimensional (1D) single-atom array and a high-finesse miniature cavity. The atom array is obtained by loading single atoms into a 1D optical tweezer array with dimensions of 1$\times$11. Therefore, a deterministic number of atoms is obtained, and the atom number is determined by imaging the atom array on a CCD camera in real time. By precisely controlling the position and spacing of the atom array in the high finesse Fabry--Perot cavity, all the atoms in the array are strongly coupled to the cavity simultaneously. The vacuum Rabi splitting spectra are discriminated for deterministic atom numbers from 1 to 8, and the $\sqrt{N}$ dependence of the collective enhancement of the coupling strength on atom number $N$ is validated at the single-atom level.