We consider a sample of ultracold atoms inside an atomic cavity and driven by a laser field. We show that this field acts effectively as a nonlinear ``light crystal'' for the intracavity atomic wave, which in turn can cause self-modulation and compression of ultracold atomic wave packets. The analogy to the conventional compression technique of optical pulses in a nonlinear optical cavity is discussed.

Physical Review AJul 1, 19957 citations

Cavity Nonlinear Optics at Low Photon Numbers from Collective Atomic Motion

Subhadeep Gupta, Kevin L. Moore, Kater W. Murch +1 more

We report on nonlinear optical phenomena from collective motion of ultracold atoms within a strong-coupling cavity. The nonlinearity arises from probe-induced atom displacement. Longevity of motional coherence allows nonlinearity at extremely low cavity photon numbers.

Frontiers in OpticsJan 1, 200748 citations