Trapped atoms in one-dimensional photonic crystals

We describe one-dimensional (1D) photonic crystals that support a guided mode suitable for atom trapping within a unit cell, as well as a second probe mode with strong atom–photon interactions. A new hybrid trap is analyzed that combines optical and Casimir–Polder forces to form stable traps for neutral atoms in dielectric nanostructures. By suitable design of the band structure, the atomic spontaneous emission rate into the probe mode can exceed the rate into all other modes by more than tenfold. The unprecedented single-atom reflectivity r0 ≳ 0.9 for the guided probe field should enable diverse investigations of photon-mediated interactions for 1D atom chains and cavity quantum electrodynamics.