Kimble: Atom-Light Interactions in Photonic Crystals

Monday, February 24, 2014 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm EST (GMT -05:00)

H. Jeff Kimble, California Institute of Technology

Localizing arrays of atoms in photonic crystals could provide new capabilities for quantum networks and quantum many-body physics. Intriguing theoretical analyses suggest the emergence of completely new paradigms for strong atom-photon interactions that exploit the tremendous flexibility for modal and dispersion engineering of one and two-dimensional photonic crystals. Bringing these scientific possibilities to fruition requires creation of an interdisciplinary ‘toolkit’ from atomic physics, quantum optics, and nanophotonics for the control, manipulation, and interaction of atoms and photons with a complexity and scalability not currently possible.