title: Strong coupling between single atoms and nontransversal photons.
abstract: Light is often described as a fully transverse-polarized wave, i.e., with an electric field vector that is orthogonal to the direction of propagation. However, light confined in dielectric structures such as optical waveguides or whispering-gallery-mode microresonators can have a strong longitudinal polarization component. Here, using single (85)Rb atoms strongly coupled to a whispering-gallery-mode microresonator, we experimentally and theoretically demonstrate that the presence of this longitudinal polarization fundamentally alters the interaction between light and matter.
authors.affiliation: Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology, Atominstitut, Vienna University of Technology, 1020 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Junge
authors.forename: Danny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: O'Shea
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Volz
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rauschenbeutel