Strong atom-electromagnetic mode coupling in quantum optics: Applications in cavity quantum electrodynamics

This thesis reports on the experimental realization of a strong coupling between an atom and a single mode of the electromagnetic field. The research is carried out in the cavity quantum electrodynamics sub field of quantum optics. The system at the center of the research is a large open-sided optical cavity which is coupled to an optical transition in an atomic beam.; In the thesis correlations between the classical imaging properties of optical cavities and the quantum optical effects experienced by atoms placed within them are established. These correlations lead to the hourglass mode concept. An hourglass mode displays diffraction limited focusing which is characterized by extremely tight focussing of optical beams down to focal spot diameters on the order of an optical wavelength. The concomitantly large electromagnetic energy densities at the focus generate a strong atom-mode coupling. A large optical open-sided hourglass mode cavity maximizes the atom-electromagnetic mode coupling strength in a cavity of given length.; To test the validity of these concepts the aforementioned correlations are applied in the realization of a large active volume hourglass mode confocal optical cavity. Cavity mediated perturbation to the frequency and width of a spontaneous emission line in an atomic beam of Barium are observed and used to quantify the atom-hourglass mode coupling strength. The large active volume of the hourglass mode confocal optical cavity makes possible the observation of manifestly subnatural spontaneous emission widths in a cavity confined atomic sample.