Abstract

The one-atom maser is an ideal device to study quantum phenomena in atom-radiation interaction.^1-2 The maser cavity is a superconducting niobium resonator, one mode of which is tuned to a transition between highly excited states (Rydberg states) of the rubidium atom. The cavity field is pumped by a beam of velocity selected Rydberg atoms entering the cavity in the upper maser level. The pumping occurs via the interaction of single atoms with the cavity field. After the interaction, the atoms are detected by state-selective electric field ionization. The cavity field properties are derived from the counts associated with atoms in the upper or lower maser level.

© 1994 IEEE