A scheme for two-dimensional (2D) atom localization via probe absorption in a three-level $\Lambda$-type atomic system is suggested. The required atom-field configuration is obtained when the atom interacts with a weak probe field and two orthogonal standing-wave fields where each standing-wave field is obtained from the superposition of the two standing-wave fields along the corresponding directions. We study the effect of the probe field detuning and phase shifts associated with the standing-wave fields. Two equally probable position information of the single atom are observed in the conditional position probability distribution. However, a unique position of the single atom in the 2D $xy$ plane is observed for some arbitrary choices of the phases associated with standing-wave fields and by selecting slightly different wavelengths of standing-wave fields.

• Received 26 April 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.88.013846