From Single Atoms to Engineered “Super-Atoms”: Interfacing Photons and Atoms in Free Space

Table 1

State-of-the-art of coupling light and single atoms in free space (adapted from [83]).

Reference and experimental system	Year	Extinction	Reflection	Phase shift	Absorption	Coupling efficiency
Wineland et al. [84]; trapped ion	1987	≤0.1%	—	—	—	—
Vamivakas et al. [85]; quantum dot	2007	12%	—	—	—	—
Wrigge et al. [86]; molecule in a matrix	2008	22%	—	—	—	Estimated ca. 7%
Tey et al. [87]; trapped atom	2008	10%	—	—	—	—
Aljunid et al. [88]; trapped atom	2009	—	—	1°	—	—
Slodicka et al. [89]; trapped ion	2010	1.4%	—	—	—	—
Pototschnig et al. [90]; molecule in a matrix	2011	19%	—	3°	—	—
Piro et al. [91]; trapped ion	2011	—	—	—	0.03%	—
Aljunid et al. [92]; trapped atom	2011	—	0.17%	—	—	—
Aljunid et al. [93]; trapped atom	2013	—	—	—	—	3%
Fischer et al. [94]; trapped ion	2014	—	—	—	—	7.2%