High-precision three-dimensional atom localization in a three-level pump–probe atomic system

Abstract

We propose a new scheme for three-dimensional (3D) atom localization controlled by incoherent pump in a three-level Λ-type atomic system. The spatial position information of an atom in 3D space can be achieved via measuring probe gain and absorption when the atom passes through three mutually perpendicular standing-wave fields. It is found that high-detecting-probability and high-precision 3D atom localization can be obtained via properly adjusting the relevant parameters in the presence of the combination of a traveling-wave field and three orthogonal standing-wave fields. Furthermore, it is also shown that the incoherent pumping field can switch the localization patterns from the probe-gain sphere to the probe-absorption sphere and enhance 3D atom-localization precision.