We present a method of transferring a cold atom between spatially separated microtraps by means of a Raman transition between the ground motional states of the two traps. The intermediate states for the Raman transition are the vibrational levels of
a third microtrap, and we determine the experimental conditions for which the overlap of the wave functions leads to an efficient transfer. There is a close analogy with the Franck-Condon principle in the spectroscopy of molecules. Spin-dependent manipulation of neutral atoms in microtraps has important applications in quantum information processing. We also show that starting with several atoms, precisely one atom can be transferred to the final potential well hence giving deterministic preparation of single atoms.
