The single mode radiation field of the one atom maser or micromaser is the prototype of an open quantum system. It has been used successfully for studies both theoretical and experimental of the quantum interaction between two level Rydberg atoms and one privileged mode of the radiation field. The Hamiltonian that describes the operation of the micromaser is the "Jaynes-Cummings Hamiltonian". This is the most basic system possible in quantum mechanics. Its simplicity has made it the most commonly used Hamiltonian in theoretical quantum optics. Thus research on the micromaser has far reaching implications.

The microwave cavities that are used in this experiment have the longest decay times for experiments of this type (0.3 s), the effects occur on a macroscopic time scale in which the dynamics of the interaction can be observed in great detail.

In its new home the current direction of research on the micromaser is to investigate methods of controllably entangling a large ensemble of atoms to create a useable quantum resource. This has applications from fundamental tests of quantum mechanics to quantum computing and quantum information.

In the future we will look at methods of miniaturization of this technology for its final incorporation in single atom chip technology.

"We never experiment with just one atom, in thought experiments we sometimes assume that we do, this invariably entails ridiculous consequences." Erwin Scrödinger

Presentation

Cavity QED and Quantum Computing (PDF 5Mb)

A Talk to the Quantum Circuits Network Summer school