Quantum manipulation and measurement of single atoms in optical cavity QED

Using laser-cooled atoms strongly coupled to a high finesse optical cavity, we have performed real-time continuous measurements of single atomic trajectories in terms of the interaction energy (Eint) with the cavity. Individual transit events reveal a shot-noise limited measurement (fractional) sensitivity of 4×10-4/√Hz to variations in Eint/ℏ within a bandwidth of 1300 kHz. The strong coupling of atom and cavity leads to a maximum interaction energy greater than the kinetic energy of an intracavity laser-cooled atom, even under weak cavity excitation. Evidence of mechanical light forces for intracavity photon number