We propose a new method for detecting and monitoring the motion of a single
atom in high-Q optical resonators based on the position sensitive dispersi
ve coupling of different field modes. Using sufficient atom-field detuning
the irreversible evolution of the internal state and external motion of the
atom can be kept small still allowing for a fast and reliable detection. A
s an implementation we discuss the case of two counterpropagating modes in
a microscopic ring resonator with spatially localized output coupler. The a
nalytical estimates yielding 100% signal contrast for suitable parameters a
re then confirmed by numerical solution of the time-dependent equations for
the coupled atom-cavity dynamics. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All right
s reserved.