Abstract

The most promising candidate for the realization of the first one-atom laser is the Ca⁺-scheme of the ion-trap laser. The setup envisioned consists of a single Ca⁺ ion. which is stored in an endcap trap and kept in permanent interaction with the light field. Such a microscopic laser system shows typical laser behavior in some parameter regimes but also a number of quantum effects, which cannot be found in conventional macroscopic lasers.

© 1998 IEEE