Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Physical Review A

Sensitive detection of radiation trapping in cold-atom clouds

Matthew C. Beeler, Ronald W. Stites, Soo Kim, Laura Feeney, Samir Bali

Published Jul 24, 2003• 9 citations
Publisher

Abstract

In this paper, we calculate the effect of radiation trapping on the photon statistics of the light scattered from optical molasses. We propose that an intensity correlation function measurement may be sensitive to the presence of radiation trapping at an on-resonance optical depth as low as 0.1, more than an order of magnitude less than where effects of multiple scattering in cold-atom clouds have been previously observed [T. Walker, D. Sesko, and C. Wieman, Phys. Rev. Lett. 64, 408 (1990); D. Sesko, T. Walker, and C. Wieman, J. Opt. Soc. Am. B. 8, 946 (1991)].

DOI
10.1103/physreva.68.013411

Related papers

Sensitive measurement of radiation trapping in cold-atom clouds by intensity correlation detection

Ronald W. Stites, Matthew C. Beeler, Laura Feeney +2 more

We present experimental evidence that the intensity correlations of light scattered from a cold-atom cloud are sensitive to the presence of small amounts of radiation trapping in an atomic sample of density 6 x 10(8)/cm3, with an optical depth (for a resonant light beam) of 0.4. This density and optical depth are approximately an order of magnitude less than the density and on-resonance optical depth at which effects of multiple scattering in cold-atom clouds have been previously observed [Phys. Rev. Lett. 64, 408 (1990)].

Optics Letters•Dec 1, 2004•13 citations

An Experimental Investigation of Radiation Trapping in Optical Molasses

Ronald W. Stites

In this thesis, the effect of radiation trapping on the photon statistics of the light scattered from optical molasses is experimentally investigated.It is demonstrated that the intensity correlation function is sensitive to the presence of radiation trapping at an on-resonance optical depth, OD, as low as 0.1.It is also shown that it is possible by introducing a mild anisotropy in the trapped cloud to change the number density of a trapped sample of laser-cooled atoms in a dilute magnetooptical trap by over an order of magnitude, from 1.9 × 10 9 /cm 3 to 1.6 × 10 8 /cm 3 , while keeping the temperature constant.

•Jan 1, 2005•1 citation

Radiation Trapping in Optical Molasses

Soo Y. Kim

Using three orthogonal pairs of counterpropagating red-detuned lasers and a magnetic field gradient, we have constructed a trap of 85 Rb atoms at temperatures reduced to the order of 100 microKelvins and densities of 10 9 atoms/cm 3 .When the atoms interact with the light, they are absorbing and spontaneously emitting photons.The emitted photons from atoms can be absorbed by neighboring atoms.This phenomenon, called radiation trapping, limits the density and temperature of the trap and also destroys the atomic coherence.We can noninvasively measure the effects of radiation trapping by measuring the intensity correlation function of the light radiated from the trap.We have found that theoretically, the effects of radiation trapping can be detected in dilute atomic samples with an on-resonance optical depth as low as 0.1, more than an order of magnitude less than seen before.Experimental progress is reported.

•Jan 1, 2003•0 citations

Subradiance and radiation trapping in cold atoms

P. Weiss, M. Araujo, Robin Kaiser +1 more

We experimentally and numerically study the temporal dynamics of light scattered by large clouds of cold atoms after the exciting laser is switched off, in the low intensity (linear-optics) regime. Radiation trapping due to multiple scattering as well as subradiance lead to decay much slower than the single atom fluorescence decay. These two effects have already been observed separately, but the interplay between them remained to be understood. Here, we show that with well chosen parameters of the driving field, the two effects can occur at the same time, but follow different scaling behaviors. The subradiant decay is observed at late time and its rate is independent of the detuning, while the radiation trapping decay is observed at intermediate time and depends on the detuning through the optical depth of the sample. Numerical simulations based on random walk process and coupled-dipole equations support our interpretations. Our study clarifies the different interpretations and physical mechanisms at the origin of slow temporal dynamics of light in cold atoms.

arXiv:1803.01646•New Journal of Physics•May 17, 2018•63 citations

Precise intensity correlation measurement for atomic resonance fluorescence from optical molasses

Kazuyuki Nakayama, Yutaka Yoshikawa, Hisatoshi Matsumoto +2 more

We measured the intensity correlation of true thermal light scattered from cold atoms in an optical molasses. Using a single-mode fiber as a transverse mode filter, measurement with maximally high spatial coherence was realized, allowing us to observe ideal photon bunching with unprecedented precision. The measured intensity correlation functions showed a definite bimodal structure with fast damped oscillation from the maximum value of 2.02(3) and slow monotonic decay toward unity. The oscillation can be understood as an interference between elastic and inelastic scattering fields in resonance fluorescence.

Optics Express•Mar 15, 2010•22 citations

Measurements of intensity correlations of scattered light from laser-cooled atoms

Samir Bali, Dominikus Hoffmann, José Simân +1 more

We report measurements of the intensity correlations of scattered light from atoms in optical molasses. For small numbers of atoms, the observations are consistent with recent models of the Rayleigh and Raman contributions to the frequency spectrum. Magnetic fields on the order of 100 mG significantly broaden the spectrum. Radiation trapping results in reduction of the size of the correlations as well as broadening of the spectrum. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.

Physical Review A•May 1, 1996•33 citations
In this paper, we calculate the effect of radiation trapping on the photon statistics of the light scattered from optical molasses. We propose that an intensity correlation function measurement may be sensitive to the presence of radiation trapping at an on-resonance optical depth as low as 0.1, more than an order of magnitude less than where effects of multiple scattering in cold-atom clouds have been previously observed [T. Walker, D. Sesko, and C. Wieman, Phys. Rev. Lett. 64, 408 (1990); D. Sesko, T. Walker, and C. Wieman, J. Opt. Soc. Am. B. 8, 946 (1991)].
We present experimental evidence that the intensity correlations of light scattered from a cold-atom cloud are sensitive to the presence of small amounts of radiation trapping in an atomic sample of density 6 x 10(8)/cm3, with an optical depth (for a resonant light beam) of 0.4. This density and optical depth are approximately an order of magnitude less than the density and on-resonance optical depth at which effects of multiple scattering in cold-atom clouds have been previously observed [Phys. Rev. Lett. 64, 408 (1990)].
In this thesis, the effect of radiation trapping on the photon statistics of the light scattered from optical molasses is experimentally investigated.It is demonstrated that the intensity correlation function is sensitive to the presence of radiation trapping at an on-resonance optical depth, OD, as low as 0.1.It is also shown that it is possible by introducing a mild anisotropy in the trapped cloud to change the number density of a trapped sample of laser-cooled atoms in a dilute magnetooptical trap by over an order of magnitude, from 1.9 × 10 9 /cm 3 to 1.6 × 10 8 /cm 3 , while keeping the temperature constant.
Using three orthogonal pairs of counterpropagating red-detuned lasers and a magnetic field gradient, we have constructed a trap of 85 Rb atoms at temperatures reduced to the order of 100 microKelvins and densities of 10 9 atoms/cm 3 .When the atoms interact with the light, they are absorbing and spontaneously emitting photons.The emitted photons from atoms can be absorbed by neighboring atoms.This phenomenon, called radiation trapping, limits the density and temperature of the trap and also destroys the atomic coherence.We can noninvasively measure the effects of radiation trapping by measuring the intensity correlation function of the light radiated from the trap.We have found that theoretically, the effects of radiation trapping can be detected in dilute atomic samples with an on-resonance optical depth as low as 0.1, more than an order of magnitude less than seen before.Experimental progress is reported.
We experimentally and numerically study the temporal dynamics of light scattered by large clouds of cold atoms after the exciting laser is switched off, in the low intensity (linear-optics) regime. Radiation trapping due to multiple scattering as well as subradiance lead to decay much slower than the single atom fluorescence decay. These two effects have already been observed separately, but the interplay between them remained to be understood. Here, we show that with well chosen parameters of the driving field, the two effects can occur at the same time, but follow different scaling behaviors. The subradiant decay is observed at late time and its rate is independent of the detuning, while the radiation trapping decay is observed at intermediate time and depends on the detuning through the optical depth of the sample. Numerical simulations based on random walk process and coupled-dipole equations support our interpretations. Our study clarifies the different interpretations and physical mechanisms at the origin of slow temporal dynamics of light in cold atoms.
We measured the intensity correlation of true thermal light scattered from cold atoms in an optical molasses. Using a single-mode fiber as a transverse mode filter, measurement with maximally high spatial coherence was realized, allowing us to observe ideal photon bunching with unprecedented precision. The measured intensity correlation functions showed a definite bimodal structure with fast damped oscillation from the maximum value of 2.02(3) and slow monotonic decay toward unity. The oscillation can be understood as an interference between elastic and inelastic scattering fields in resonance fluorescence.