Abstract

We derive a quantum filter equation for a pumped multimode atom laser interacting with a far-detuned laser field that is measured on an array of photodetectors. This system measures atomic density, which is equivalent to a measurement of position (and higher order moments of position) in the single atom limit, and atom number in the single mode limit. Both of these limits have important control schemes associated with them in the literature, and these control schemes operate in significantly different parameter regimes. We examine methods for solving the multimode filter equation in the presence of feedback control.

© 2007 Optical Society of America