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Physica Scripta

Weak Localization of Light in Ultracold Atomic Gases

Mark D. Havey, Dmitriy V. Kupriyanov

Published Jan 1, 2005• 7 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We summarize recent experimental and theoretical advances in the physics of coherent multiple light scattering in ultracold atomic gases. Current outstanding problems are reviewed, along with prospects for significant new insights into mesoscopic physics in ultracold atomic samples. The possibility of experimental demonstration of strong localization of light in atomic gases is discussed.

DOI
10.1088/0031-8949/72/6/n02

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We summarize recent experimental and theoretical advances in the physics of coherent multiple light scattering in ultracold atomic gases. Current outstanding problems are reviewed, along with prospects for significant new insights into mesoscopic physics in ultracold atomic samples. The possibility of experimental demonstration of strong localization of light in atomic gases is discussed.
The recent advances in single atom detection and manipulation in experiments with ultracold quantum gases are reviewed. The discussion starts with the basic principles of trapping, cooling and detecting single ions and atoms. The realization of single atom detection in ultracold quantum gases is presented in detail and the employed methods, which are based on light scattering, electron scattering, field ionization and direct neutral particle detection are discussed. The microscopic coherent manipulation of single atoms in a quantum gas is also covered. Various examples are given in order to highlight the power of these approaches to study many-body quantum systems.
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Cold atoms have emerged as interesting quantum system to study coherent transport properties of light. First experiments have established that dilute samples with large optical thickness allow studying weak localization of light. The present goal of this research is to study coherent transport of photons in dense samples. The quest for Anderson localization of light is among the most interesting questions currently studied. One important aspect in the quest of Anderson localization of light with cold atoms is the relation of Anderson localization and Dicke super- or subradiance. With large and dense samples of cold atoms the interplay between these different phenomena can be studied. During this research one also has to study anomalous diffusion (Lévy flights of photons) and new situations such as a random lasing can arise if one combines gain with multiple scattering. Cold atoms thus continue to allow for new exciting physics to be investigated.