Science

Atom Laser Shows That It Is Worthy of the Name

Alexander Hellemans

Published Feb 13, 1998• 0 citations

Abstract

PHYSICS[ Alexander Hellemans ][1] In a conventional a process called stimulated emission acts to rapidly build up a powerful, coherent beam, but some have questioned whether this actually happens in the laser, which was demonstrated for the first time last year. Now the atom laser team makes good on its claim. On page [1005][2], the researchers report evidence that the light in the atom laser--atoms held in a quantum state known as a Bose-Einstein condensate--forms through a process analogous to stimulated emission, as atoms already in the condensate help coax additional atoms into quantum lockstep. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org#name [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/279/5353/1005

DOI: 10.1126/science.279.5353.986a

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