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arXiv:1807.03231 · Physical Review Letters

Lasing and Amplification from Two-Dimensional Atom Arrays

Vahagn K. Mkhitaryan, Lijun Meng, Andrea Marini, F. Javier Garcı́a de Abajo

Published Oct 17, 2018• 24 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We explore the ability of two-dimensional periodic atom arrays to produce light amplification and generate laser emission when gain is introduced through external optical pumping. Specifically, we predict that lasing can take place for arbitrarily weak atomic scatterers assisted by cooperative interaction among atoms in a 2D lattice. We base this conclusion on analytical theory for three-level scatterers, which additionally reveals a rich interplay between lattice and atomic resonances. Our results provide a general background to understand light amplification and lasing in periodic atomic arrays, with promising applications in the generation, manipulation, and control of coherent photon states at the nanoscale.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.121.163602

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Two-photon amplification and lasing in laser-driven potassium atoms is investigated theoretically using a rigorous model that takes into account the hyperfine level structure of the atoms for arbitrary intensity drive and lasing fields. The model correctly predicts most features of the recent experiments, such as the characteristics of the multiphoton gain resonances and the two-photon laser emission intensity and line shape. In addition, it constitutes a new tool for exploring behaviors that are difficult to address experimentally, such as interference effects between different quantum pathways. In contrast to single-photon lasers, the laser emission line shape is frequency pushed and has the form of a closed curve composed of a stable and an unstable branch.
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Superradiance and coherent atomic recoil lasing are two closely related phenomena, both resulting from the cooperative scattering of light by atoms. In ultracold atomic gases below the critical temperature for Bose-Einstein condensation these processes take place with the simultaneous amplification of the atomic matter waves. We explore these phenomena by surveying some of the experimental and theoretical developments that have emerged in this field of study since the first observation of superradiant scattering from a Bose-Einstein condensate in 1999 [1].