Efficient two-dimensional atom localization via spontaneous emission in a single decay channel

We investigate the two-dimensional atom localization behaviors in a four-level atomic system via controlled spontaneous emission in a single decay channel. It is found that the detecting probability and precision of atom localization behaviors can be significantly improved via adjusting the system parameters. More importantly, the two-dimensional atom localization patterns reveal that the maximal probability of finding an atom within the sub-half-wavelength domain of the standing waves can reach unity when the corresponding conditions are satisfied. As a result, our scheme may be helpful in laser cooling or the atom nano-lithography via atom localization.