Quantitative absorption imaging: The role of incoherent multiple scattering in the saturating regime
Romain Veyron, Vincent Mançois, Jean-Baptiste Gérent +3 more
In this paper, we study the modification of coherent scattering processes in dense ensembles. Using absorption imaging, we experimentally demonstrate that the absorption cross section in dense $^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ cold atom ensembles is reduced, with respect to the single-particle response. This reduction is linearly dependent on the optical density and well reproduced by a one-dimensional model of coherent field propagation in an ensemble of quantum two-level systems that self-consistently incorporates multiple scattering contribution. Our model shines light upon the key role of incoherent scattering on the modification of the optical response of dense ensembles and leads to a generalization of the Beer-Lambert law. Our result applies to any effective two-level system ensemble and allows for quantitative and absolute in situ absorption imaging.
arXiv:2110.12505•Physical Review Research•Jul 13, 2022•12 citations