Collective atomic recoil lasing

• Published in: Journal of modern optics Vol. 51; no. 6-7; pp. 957 - 965
• Main Authors: Zimmermann, Claus, Kruse, Dietmar, Cube, Christoph Von, Slama, Sebastian, Deh, Benjamin, Courteille, Philippe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Taylor & Francis Group 01-04-2004; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Mechanical effects of light on atoms, molecules, electrons, and ions; Optics; Physics; Quantum description of interaction of light and matter; related experiments; Quantum optics; Atomic laser; Attractive potential; Rayleigh scattering; Mode coupling; Light matter interaction; Ultracold atom; Quantum optics; Optical field; Collective process; Experimental device; Cold atom; Experimental study; Coherent scattering; Ring resonator; Coupled modes
• ISSN: 0950-0340; 1362-3044
• DOI: 10.1080/09500340408233609

A cloud of ultra-cold atoms is loaded into the attractive potential of a light wave that is generated by two counter-propagating modes of a high-finesse ring resonator. The two modes are coupled by the atoms due to coherent Rayleigh scattering and generate a potential which acts back on the motion of the atoms. This feedback leads to a new frequency component and can be described in terms of the long time proposed collective atomic recoil laser (CARL). This model is investigated experimentally and extended by introducing an optical friction force acting on the atoms. This allows for steady state operation of the CARL. Furthermore, it leads to a threshold behaviour of the CARL that translates into a novel type of phase transition: while passing the threshold the initially homogeneous atomic distribution is bunched in space and velocity. With this behaviour the system turns out to acquire some of the main features of the so-called Kuramoto model which provides a very general description of a network of limit cycle oscillators.