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arXiv:1003.2503 · Journal of Modern Optics

Quantum multiple scattering

Robin Kaiser

Published Aug 14, 2009• 33 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

The quest for Anderson localization of light is at the center of many experimental and theoretical activities. Atomic vapors play a particular role in this research field, as they show a number of specific properties that make them quite different from other materials used to look for Anderson localization. The very narrow resonance of the atomic line, the mechanical effects of the light on the atoms and the potential for quantum features of these scatterers call for more detailed analysis of the behavior of light in large and dense samples of cold atoms.

DOI
10.1080/09500340903082663

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The quest for Anderson localization of light is at the center of many experimental and theoretical activities. Atomic vapors play a particular role in this research field, as they show a number of specific properties that make them quite different from other materials used to look for Anderson localization. The very narrow resonance of the atomic line, the mechanical effects of the light on the atoms and the potential for quantum features of these scatterers call for more detailed analysis of the behavior of light in large and dense samples of cold atoms.
Cold atoms have emerged as interesting quantum system to study coherent transport properties of light. First experiments have established that dilute samples with large optical thickness allow studying weak localization of light. The present goal of this research is to study coherent transport of photons in dense samples. The quest for Anderson localization of light is among the most interesting questions currently studied. One important aspect in the quest of Anderson localization of light with cold atoms is the relation of Anderson localization and Dicke super- or subradiance. With large and dense samples of cold atoms the interplay between these different phenomena can be studied. During this research one also has to study anomalous diffusion (Lévy flights of photons) and new situations such as a random lasing can arise if one combines gain with multiple scattering. Cold atoms thus continue to allow for new exciting physics to be investigated.
Large ensembles of cold, immobile atoms might serve as ideal model systems to study Anderson localization of light. In contrast to dielectric systems, atomic clouds allow for a fine experimental control and admit a precise theoretical description. In this talk, we will review the recent theoretical developments aimed at paving a path towards an experimental realization of Anderson localization of light in three-dimensional (3D) atomic systems. Because atoms are the simplest point scatterers, considering light scattering on them is a good opportunity to illustrate several basic concepts and methods of the localization theory (Thouless conductance and Ioffe-Regel criterion, the mobility edge and the critical behavior, the scaling and self-consistent theories, the finite-size scaling procedure, etc.) on a concrete example. We will show that, surprisingly, Anderson localization of light by atoms is impossible in 3D if no special efforts are made to suppress near-field interactions between atoms. The necessary suppression may be achieved by subjecting the atoms to a constant external magnetic field or by arranging them in a crystalline structure in which a small amount of disorder is introduced. However, even when spatially localized states appear in a system of immobile atoms, their experimental observation remains challenging because of the residual thermal motion of atoms.
Summary form only given. The quest for Anderson localization of light is at the center of many experimental and theoretical activities. Cold atoms have emerged as interesting quantum system to study coherent transport properties of light. Initial experiments have established that dilute samples with large optical thickness allow studying weak localization of light [1]. The goal of our research is to study coherent transport of photons in dense samples. One important aspect is the quest of Anderson localization of light with cold atoms and its relation to Dicke super- or subradiance, in particular with large and dense samples of cold atoms.In this talk I will show that Dicke type cooperativity with global synchronization dominates over Anderson localisation with local interferences [2-4], even for high densities of atoms fulfilling the Ioffe-Regel criterion kl<;1. I will show that the standard approach using single parameter scaling theory does not apply for photons in resonant systems and highlight this considering on-resonance scattering of light by cold atoms.
We report an experimental study of near resonance light scattering on the component of the line in atomic . Experiments are performed on spatially bi-Gaussian ultracold gas samples having peak densities ranging from about – atoms/cm and for a range of resonance saturation parameters and detunings from atomic resonance. Time resolution of the scattered light intensity reveals the dynamics of light scattering, optical pumping, and saturation effects. The experimental line shape for optical excitation in steady state is found to be significantly narrower than that for the transition studied previously under similar conditions. This difference is qualitatively reproduced by a theoretical model of the two transitions at similar density.