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

Photonic Metamaterials: From Random to Periodic

Light transport in cold atoms: dephasing processes

David Wilkowski, Robin Kaiser, G. Labeyrie, Cord Axel Müller, Christian Miniatura, Thomas Wellens, Benoît Grémaud, Dominique Delande

Published Jan 1, 2007• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We will present some experimental and theoretical studies on several dephasing processes that affect interference effects in multiple scattering of light in cold atomic samples: residual motion and internal structure of the scatterers, saturation of the atomic optical transition. All these processes reduce the CBS effect and should be circumvented in the quest for strong localization of light in cold atomic clouds.

DOI
10.1364/meta.2007.thc4

Related papers

Weak localization of light by cold atoms: The impact of quantum internal structure

Cord Axel Müller, Thibaut Jonckheere, Christian Miniatura +1 more

Since the work of Anderson on localization, interference effects for the propagation of a wave in the presence of disorder have been extensively studied, as exemplified in coherent backscattering (CBS) of light. In the multiple scattering of light by a disordered sample of thermal atoms, interference effects are usually washed out by the fast atomic motion. This is no longer true for cold atoms where CBS has recently been observed. However, the internal structure of the atoms strongly influences the interference properties. In this paper, we consider light scattering by an atomic dipole transition with arbitrary degeneracy and study its impact on coherent backscattering. We show that the interference contrast is strongly reduced. Assuming a uniform statistical distribution over internal degrees of freedom, we compute analytically the single- and double-scattering contributions to the intensity in the weak-localization regime. The so-called ladder and crossed diagrams are generalized to the case of atoms and permit to calculate enhancement factors and backscattering intensity profiles for polarized light and any closed atomic dipole transition.

arXiv:quant-ph/0107030•Physical Review A•Oct 2, 2001•62 citations

Light Transport in Cold Atoms and Thermal Decoherence

G. Labeyrie, Dominique Delande, Robin Kaiser +1 more

We use the coherent backscattering interference effect to investigate experimentally and theoretically how coherent transport of light inside a cold atomic vapor is affected by the residual motion of atomic scatterers. As the temperature of the atomic cloud increases, the interference contrast decreases dramatically. This emphasizes the role of motion-induced decoherence for resonant scatterers even in the sub-Doppler regime of temperature. We derive analytical expressions for the corresponding coherence time.

arXiv:quant-ph/0603153•Physical Review Letters•Jul 7, 2006•36 citations

Coherent backscattering of light by cold atoms

Christian Miniatura, G. Labeyrie, Cord Axel Müller +2 more

Summary form only given. A wave propagating in a strongly scattering medium experiences many scattering events which rapidly erase the memory of its initial direction on a typical scale length known as the transport mean free path. It is now known that interference can profoundly alter the wave transport, a spectacular manifestation being weak and strong localisation of waves. We shall briefly review the basics of coherent backscattering (CBS) and the results obtained with classical scatterers. We shall then describe our experiment using cold atoms and discuss the experimental data. The non trivial role of the atomic quantum internal structure in the enhancement reduction will be singled out in a simple situation and results of analytical calculations will be presented.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Aug 29, 2005•2 citations

Coherent backscattering of light by cold atoms: Theory meets experiment

G. Labeyrie, Dominique Delande, Cord Axel Müller +2 more

Coherent backscattering (CBS) of quasi-resonant light by cold atoms presents some specific features due to the internal structure of the atomic scatterers. We present the first quantitative comparison between the experimentally observed CBS cones and Monte Carlo calculations which take into account the shape of the atomic cloud as well as the internal atomic structure.

arXiv:physics/0211091•Europhysics Letters (EPL)•Feb 1, 2003•47 citations

Multiple Scattering of Light in Atomic Gases: From Levy Flights to Random Lasers

Robin Kaiser

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.

Frontiers in Optics•Jan 1, 2009•0 citations

Observation of coherent backscattering of light by cold atoms

G. Labeyrie, Cord Axel Müller, D S Wiersma +2 more

Coherent backscattering (CBS) of light waves by a random medium is a signature of interference effects in multiple scattering. This effect has been studied in many systems ranging from white paint to biological tissues. Recently, we have observed CBS from a sample of laser-cooled atoms, a scattering medium with interesting new properties. In this paper we discuss various effects which have to be taken into account for a quantitative study of coherent backscattering of light by cold atoms.

arXiv:cond-mat/0004359•Journal of Optics B Quantum and Semiclassical Optics•Oct 1, 2000•54 citations
We will present some experimental and theoretical studies on several dephasing processes that affect interference effects in multiple scattering of light in cold atomic samples: residual motion and internal structure of the scatterers, saturation of the atomic optical transition. All these processes reduce the CBS effect and should be circumvented in the quest for strong localization of light in cold atomic clouds.
Since the work of Anderson on localization, interference effects for the propagation of a wave in the presence of disorder have been extensively studied, as exemplified in coherent backscattering (CBS) of light. In the multiple scattering of light by a disordered sample of thermal atoms, interference effects are usually washed out by the fast atomic motion. This is no longer true for cold atoms where CBS has recently been observed. However, the internal structure of the atoms strongly influences the interference properties. In this paper, we consider light scattering by an atomic dipole transition with arbitrary degeneracy and study its impact on coherent backscattering. We show that the interference contrast is strongly reduced. Assuming a uniform statistical distribution over internal degrees of freedom, we compute analytically the single- and double-scattering contributions to the intensity in the weak-localization regime. The so-called ladder and crossed diagrams are generalized to the case of atoms and permit to calculate enhancement factors and backscattering intensity profiles for polarized light and any closed atomic dipole transition.
We use the coherent backscattering interference effect to investigate experimentally and theoretically how coherent transport of light inside a cold atomic vapor is affected by the residual motion of atomic scatterers. As the temperature of the atomic cloud increases, the interference contrast decreases dramatically. This emphasizes the role of motion-induced decoherence for resonant scatterers even in the sub-Doppler regime of temperature. We derive analytical expressions for the corresponding coherence time.
Summary form only given. A wave propagating in a strongly scattering medium experiences many scattering events which rapidly erase the memory of its initial direction on a typical scale length known as the transport mean free path. It is now known that interference can profoundly alter the wave transport, a spectacular manifestation being weak and strong localisation of waves. We shall briefly review the basics of coherent backscattering (CBS) and the results obtained with classical scatterers. We shall then describe our experiment using cold atoms and discuss the experimental data. The non trivial role of the atomic quantum internal structure in the enhancement reduction will be singled out in a simple situation and results of analytical calculations will be presented.
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.