Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:1006.3466 · Physical Review A

Collective atomic recoil motion in short-pulse matter-wave superradiance

L. Deng, E. W. Hagley

Published Nov 11, 2010• 5 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We show that a Bragg resonance is substantially incapacitated in short-pulse, matter-wave superradiant scatterings and both positive- and negative-order scatterings contribute equally. We further show that propagation gain is small and scattering events primarily occur at the ends of the condensate where the generated field has maximum strength. This explains the apparent ``asymmetry'' in the scattered components with respect to the condensate center. In contrast to long-pulse excitation, we prove that the generated field travels near the speed of light in vacuum and show that this has a significant impact on scattering. Finally, we show that when the excitation rate increases, the front-edge steepening and forward shifting of the peak of the generated field are due to depletion of the condensate.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.82.053613

Related papers

Electromagnetic Wave Dynamics in Matter-Wave Superradiant Scattering

L. Deng, M. G. Payne, E. W. Hagley

We present a small-signal wave propagation theory on matter-wave superradiant scattering. We show, in a longitudinally excited condensate, that the backward-propagating, superradiantly generated optical field propagates with ultraslow group velocity and that the small-signal gain profile has a Bragg resonance. We further show a unidirectional suppression of optical superradiant scattering, and explain why matter-wave superradiance can occur only when the pump laser is red detuned. This is the first analytical theory on field propagation in matter-wave superradiance that can explain all matter-wave superradiance experiments to date that used a single-frequency, long-pulse, red-detuned laser.

Physical Review Letters•Feb 2, 2010•29 citations

The Onset of Matter-Wave Amplification in a Superradiant Bose-Einstein Condensate

Dominik Schneble, Yoshio Torii, Micah Boyd +3 more

The interaction of short and strong laser pulses with an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate is found to generate patterns of recoiling atoms that are different from those seen in previous light-scattering experiments. This phenomenon can only be explained by optical stimulation, showing that the previous description of superradiance as atomic stimulation is incomplete and that matter-wave amplification in Bose-Einstein condensates is suppressed at short times. Our experiments clarify the nature of bosonic stimulation in the four-wave mixing of light and atoms.

Science•Apr 17, 2003•187 citations

Dynamics of matter-wave and optical fields in superradiant scattering from Bose-Einstein condensates

O. Zobay, Georgios M. Nikolopoulos

We study superradiant scattering off Bose-Einstein condensates by solving the semiclassical Maxwell-Schr\"odinger equations describing the coupled dynamics of matter-wave and optical fields. Taking the spatial dependence of these fields along the condensate axis into account, we are able to reproduce and explain many of the characteristic features observed in the experiments of Inouye et al. [Science 285, 571 (1999)] and Schneble et al. [Science 300, 475 (2003)], such as the shape of the atomic side-mode distributions for forward and backward scattering, the spatial asymmetry between forward and backward side modes, and the depletion of the condensate center observed for forward scattering.

arXiv:cond-mat/0511018•Physical Review A•Oct 27, 2005•39 citations

Collective atomic recoil in a moving Bose-Einstein condensate: From superradiance to Bragg scattering

L. Fallani, C. Fort, N. Piovella +4 more

We present the results of an experiment on light scattering from an elongated Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) interacting with a far-off-resonant pump laser. By collective atomic recoil lasing (CARL) a coherent superposition of two atomic wave packets with different momenta is created. Varying the intensity of a weak counterpropagating laser beam we observe the transition from the pure superradiant regime to the Bragg scattering regime, where Rabi oscillations in a two-level system are observed. The process is limited by the decoherence between the two atomic wave packets. In the superradiant regime the experiment gives evidence of a contribution to decoherence which depends on the initial velocity of the condensate. The system is described by the CARL-BEC model, which is a generalization of the Gross-Pitaevskii model to include the self-consistent evolution of the scattered field and a phase-diffusion decoherence process, which accounts for the observed damping.

Physical Review A•Mar 8, 2005•74 citations

Superradiant Rayleigh Scattering from a Bose-Einstein Condensate

S. Inouye, A. P. Chikkatur, Dan Stamper-Kurn +3 more

Rayleigh scattering off a Bose-Einstein condensate was studied. Exposing an elongated condensate to a single off-resonant laser beam resulted in the observation of highly directional scattering of light and atoms. This collective light scattering is caused by the coherent center-of-mass motion of the atoms in the condensate. A directional beam of recoiling atoms was built up by matter wave amplification.

Science•Jul 23, 1999•538 citations

Experimental study on superradiant light scattering from a Bose-Einstein condensate

L. Fallani, C. Fort, F. S. Cataliotti +1 more

The non-equilibrium dynamics of the superradiant scattering of light from a BEC is experimentally investigated by monitoring the time evolution of the population in the condensate. In the experiment, a cigar-shaped Bose-Einstein condensate of /sup 87/Rb atoms is produced and is exposed to a single off-resonant laser pulse directed along the condensate symmetry axis. The superradiant back-scattering of light creates a matter wave pulse moving in the same direction of the laser beam at twice the photon recoil velocity with respect to the original condensate. The efficiency of the process is limited by decoherence between the two atomic spatially overlapped wavepackets. The temporal evolution of the condensate observed in the experiment as well as the results of a simple semiclassical model in which the condensate is described by a density operator for the motional states. The population of the two matter wavepackets as a function of the light pulse duration is reported, together with the experimental points with the analytical formula resulting from the theory of collective atomic recoil laser (CARL).

European Quantum Electronics Conference (EQEC)•Jan 1, 2003•0 citations
We show that a Bragg resonance is substantially incapacitated in short-pulse, matter-wave superradiant scatterings and both positive- and negative-order scatterings contribute equally. We further show that propagation gain is small and scattering events primarily occur at the ends of the condensate where the generated field has maximum strength. This explains the apparent ``asymmetry'' in the scattered components with respect to the condensate center. In contrast to long-pulse excitation, we prove that the generated field travels near the speed of light in vacuum and show that this has a significant impact on scattering. Finally, we show that when the excitation rate increases, the front-edge steepening and forward shifting of the peak of the generated field are due to depletion of the condensate.
We present a small-signal wave propagation theory on matter-wave superradiant scattering. We show, in a longitudinally excited condensate, that the backward-propagating, superradiantly generated optical field propagates with ultraslow group velocity and that the small-signal gain profile has a Bragg resonance. We further show a unidirectional suppression of optical superradiant scattering, and explain why matter-wave superradiance can occur only when the pump laser is red detuned. This is the first analytical theory on field propagation in matter-wave superradiance that can explain all matter-wave superradiance experiments to date that used a single-frequency, long-pulse, red-detuned laser.
The interaction of short and strong laser pulses with an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate is found to generate patterns of recoiling atoms that are different from those seen in previous light-scattering experiments. This phenomenon can only be explained by optical stimulation, showing that the previous description of superradiance as atomic stimulation is incomplete and that matter-wave amplification in Bose-Einstein condensates is suppressed at short times. Our experiments clarify the nature of bosonic stimulation in the four-wave mixing of light and atoms.
We study superradiant scattering off Bose-Einstein condensates by solving the semiclassical Maxwell-Schr\"odinger equations describing the coupled dynamics of matter-wave and optical fields. Taking the spatial dependence of these fields along the condensate axis into account, we are able to reproduce and explain many of the characteristic features observed in the experiments of Inouye et al. [Science 285, 571 (1999)] and Schneble et al. [Science 300, 475 (2003)], such as the shape of the atomic side-mode distributions for forward and backward scattering, the spatial asymmetry between forward and backward side modes, and the depletion of the condensate center observed for forward scattering.
We present the results of an experiment on light scattering from an elongated Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) interacting with a far-off-resonant pump laser. By collective atomic recoil lasing (CARL) a coherent superposition of two atomic wave packets with different momenta is created. Varying the intensity of a weak counterpropagating laser beam we observe the transition from the pure superradiant regime to the Bragg scattering regime, where Rabi oscillations in a two-level system are observed. The process is limited by the decoherence between the two atomic wave packets. In the superradiant regime the experiment gives evidence of a contribution to decoherence which depends on the initial velocity of the condensate. The system is described by the CARL-BEC model, which is a generalization of the Gross-Pitaevskii model to include the self-consistent evolution of the scattered field and a phase-diffusion decoherence process, which accounts for the observed damping.
The non-equilibrium dynamics of the superradiant scattering of light from a BEC is experimentally investigated by monitoring the time evolution of the population in the condensate. In the experiment, a cigar-shaped Bose-Einstein condensate of /sup 87/Rb atoms is produced and is exposed to a single off-resonant laser pulse directed along the condensate symmetry axis. The superradiant back-scattering of light creates a matter wave pulse moving in the same direction of the laser beam at twice the photon recoil velocity with respect to the original condensate. The efficiency of the process is limited by decoherence between the two atomic spatially overlapped wavepackets. The temporal evolution of the condensate observed in the experiment as well as the results of a simple semiclassical model in which the condensate is described by a density operator for the motional states. The population of the two matter wavepackets as a function of the light pulse duration is reported, together with the experimental points with the analytical formula resulting from the theory of collective atomic recoil laser (CARL).