High-precision three-dimensional atom localization via three-wave mixing in V-type three-level atoms

•High-precision three-dimensional atom localization can be realized by choosing the D1-line of 87Rb atoms.•Three-wave mixing process can improve the localization precision significantly.•The localization precision has a sensitive dependent on relative phase of fields.

We propose a scheme for realizing high-precision three-dimensional (3D) atom localization by using V-type three-level atoms in which atoms interact with a weak probe field, a weak control field together with three mutually perpendicular standing-wave fields. Our numerical results show that the precision of 3D atom localization in volumes can be improved via three-wave mixing (TWM) in the presence of the control switch field but made instead to be reduced when the TWM channel is off in absence of the switch field. As a result, assisting with TWM, a single position information of the atom in the 3D space can be achieved, and the atom can be localized in volumes that are substantially smaller than a cubic optical wavelength. The effect of spontaneously generated coherence (SGC) as well as the relative phase of the applied fields on the precision of 3D atom localization are also discussed.