Optical Analogs of Model Atoms in Fields

Anonymous

Grant W. Henderson, Gordon R. M. Robb, Gian‐Luca Oppo +1 more

We consider a far-red-detuned optical cavity, driven by a pump, which contains an ultracold atomic medium. Using coupled partial differential equations which describe the evolution of the atomic and optical fields, we demonstrate that our model leads to novel self-structuring, led by the optical field through the dipole force, within the ultracold atomic medium. Introducing OAM to the optical pump, we demonstrate that these structures may be made to rotate, forming atomic fields analogous to persistent phase currents.

S. Haroche, J. M. Raimond

This chapter describes the properties of quantum oscillators and spins essential for the analysis of the experiments to come. Section 3.1 recalls the main features of a quantum field mode, using the analogy with the mechanical oscillators. Section 3.2 considers the coupling of two modes and introduces a simple model of a linear beam-splitter, a very useful quantum optics component. Section 3.3 turns to the other player in the spin-spring game and describe an atomic system as a spin- 1/2. It recalls how this spin can be manipulated with classical fields, preparing and analysing arbitrary spin state superpositions. It shows that a combination of two classical field pulses realizes an atomic Ramsey interferometer, analogous to the optical Mach–Zehnder device. Section 3.4 describes the coupling of a spin to a spring oscillator, ruled by a very simple Hamiltonian, first introduced in quantum optics by Jaynes and Cummings (1963).

Elena V. Goldstein, Pierre Meystre

We analyze several models of atomic detectors in the context of the measurement of coherence properties of matter waves. In particular, we show that an ionization scheme measures normally ordered correlation functions of the Schr\"odinger field, in analogy with the optical situation. However, it exhibits a sensitivity to exchange processes that is normally absent in optics.