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

arXiv:physics/0512041 · Physical Review Letters

Self-Sustained Oscillations in a Large Magneto-Optical Trap

G. Labeyrie, F. Michaud, Robin Kaiser

Published Jan 19, 2006• 65 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We have observed self-sustained radial oscillations in a large magneto-optical trap, containing up to 10(10) Rb85 atoms. This instability is due to the competition between the confining force of the magneto-optical trap and the repulsive interaction associated with multiple scattering of light inside the cold atomic cloud. A simple analytical model allows us to formulate a criterion for the instability threshold, in fair agreement with our observations. This criterion shows that large numbers of trapped atoms N>10(9) are required to observe this unstable behavior.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.96.023003

Related papers

Synchronization of a self-sustained cold-atom oscillator

Hermanni Heimonen, L. C. Kwek, Robin Kaiser +1 more

Nonlinear oscillations and synchronization phenomena are ubiquitous in nature. We study the synchronization of self-oscillating magneto-optically trapped cold atoms to a weak external driving. The oscillations arise from a dynamical instability due the competition between the screened magneto-optical trapping force and the interatomic repulsion due to multiple scattering of light. A weak modulation of the trapping force allows the oscillations of the cloud to synchronize to the driving. The synchronization frequency range increases with the forcing amplitude. The corresponding Arnold tongue is experimentally measured and compared to theoretical predictions. Phase locking between the oscillator and drive is also observed.

arXiv:1801.07934•Physical Review A•Apr 5, 2018•12 citations

Long Range Interactions in MagnetoOptical Traps

G. Labeyrie, G. L. Gattobigio, Thomas Pohl +1 more

We present in this paper a review of our work on the impact of long-range interactions on the static and dynamic behaviors of magneto-optical traps (MOT) for neutral atoms. In such systems, all forces (confinement and interaction) are mediated by light. The most obvious signature of longrange interactions is the dependence of the MOT size with number  of trapped atoms. We study in detail the scaling laws for the MOT size versus  , in a range of large N '3> 10^. We then show that the competition between confinement and repulsive interaction can lead, for  large, to a new dynamical instability characterized by spontaneous, self-sustained oscillations of the MOT. This instability is investigated experimentally and theoretically, using both a simple analytical model and a more refined numerical one.

•Jan 1, 2013•0 citations

Self sustained collective oscillation in a cloud of cold atoms

G. Labeyrie, Robin Kaiser

This study presents experimental results of the collective effects, which are modifying the magneto-optical trap size, the motion of the center of mass (changing from overdamped to underdamped motion) and the most intriguing result of the dynamics of the magneto-optical trap size, i.e. the self-sustained collective oscillations. A simple theoretical model can explain most of the qualitative behavior observed in the experiment.

European Quantum Electronics Conference (EQEC)•Jan 18, 2006•0 citations

Self-oscillating clouds in magneto-optical traps

Marius Gaudesius

In this Thesis, we study the fundamental aspects of self-oscillating atomic clouds in a large, balanced Magneto-Optical Trap (MOT). These instabilities bear analogies with astrophysical systems such as Cepheid variable stars, whose self-oscillations depend on radiation pressure and gravity, as well as technological systems such as confined plasmas, where self-oscillations may arise due to interactions between the plasma particles and the confining magnetic field. We begin with an experimental study of self-oscillating balanced MOT instabilities, investigating first the instability threshold behavior versus various MOT parameters, including magnetic field gradient, atom number and laser intensity. We proceed then investigating the spatio-temporal properties of the unstable regime and identify distinct instability regimes. Different analysis techniques are employed that allow us to learn about the oscillation modes of clouds of these regimes as well as the size distribution of the structures developing in clouds of these regimes. In a theoretical approach, we develop a kinetic 3D model for the MOT with many-atom effects included and successfully use it in numerical simulations of our instabilities. We find qualitative agreements with the instability thresholds from the experiments as well as predict experimentally obtained instability regimes. We investigate the impact of our model’s physical ingredients on the instabilities, to aid the understanding of the complex physics at work. Finally, we show a preliminary simulated result for a self-oscillating instability in the misaligned MOT, known to experimentally exist, in that way demonstrating that our developed numerical tool can be employed beyond the balanced MOT.

•Apr 21, 2021•0 citations

Instability threshold in a large balanced magneto-optical trap

Marius Gaudesius, Robin Kaiser, G. Labeyrie +2 more

Large clouds of cold atoms prepared in a magneto-optical trap can develop spatiotemporal instabilities when the frequency of the trapping lasers is brought close to the atomic resonance. This system bears close similarities with trapped plasmas, whereby effective Coulomb interactions are induced by the exchange of scattered photons and lead to collective nonlinear dynamics of the trapped atoms. We report in this paper a detailed experimental study of the instability threshold, and comparisons with three-dimensional simulations of the interacting, laser-driven cloud.

arXiv:2003.10919•Physical Review A•May 18, 2020•14 citations

Giant oscillations in a magneto-optical trap

Andrea di Stefano, M. Fauquembergue, Philippe Verkerk +1 more

The present paper reports on the study of deterministic instabilities in the atomic cloud of a magneto-optical trap. Giant periodic and erratic self-oscillations are experimentally observed and analyzed through a simple original model taking into account the shadow effect and the spatial distribution of the atoms in the cloud. We show that giant oscillations are induced by a homoclinic orbit merging in the neighborhood of a Hopf bifurcation.

Physical Review A•Mar 21, 2003•23 citations
We have observed self-sustained radial oscillations in a large magneto-optical trap, containing up to 10(10) Rb85 atoms. This instability is due to the competition between the confining force of the magneto-optical trap and the repulsive interaction associated with multiple scattering of light inside the cold atomic cloud. A simple analytical model allows us to formulate a criterion for the instability threshold, in fair agreement with our observations. This criterion shows that large numbers of trapped atoms N>10(9) are required to observe this unstable behavior.
Nonlinear oscillations and synchronization phenomena are ubiquitous in nature. We study the synchronization of self-oscillating magneto-optically trapped cold atoms to a weak external driving. The oscillations arise from a dynamical instability due the competition between the screened magneto-optical trapping force and the interatomic repulsion due to multiple scattering of light. A weak modulation of the trapping force allows the oscillations of the cloud to synchronize to the driving. The synchronization frequency range increases with the forcing amplitude. The corresponding Arnold tongue is experimentally measured and compared to theoretical predictions. Phase locking between the oscillator and drive is also observed.
We present in this paper a review of our work on the impact of long-range interactions on the static and dynamic behaviors of magneto-optical traps (MOT) for neutral atoms. In such systems, all forces (confinement and interaction) are mediated by light. The most obvious signature of longrange interactions is the dependence of the MOT size with number  of trapped atoms. We study in detail the scaling laws for the MOT size versus  , in a range of large N '3> 10^. We then show that the competition between confinement and repulsive interaction can lead, for  large, to a new dynamical instability characterized by spontaneous, self-sustained oscillations of the MOT. This instability is investigated experimentally and theoretically, using both a simple analytical model and a more refined numerical one.
In this Thesis, we study the fundamental aspects of self-oscillating atomic clouds in a large, balanced Magneto-Optical Trap (MOT). These instabilities bear analogies with astrophysical systems such as Cepheid variable stars, whose self-oscillations depend on radiation pressure and gravity, as well as technological systems such as confined plasmas, where self-oscillations may arise due to interactions between the plasma particles and the confining magnetic field. We begin with an experimental study of self-oscillating balanced MOT instabilities, investigating first the instability threshold behavior versus various MOT parameters, including magnetic field gradient, atom number and laser intensity. We proceed then investigating the spatio-temporal properties of the unstable regime and identify distinct instability regimes. Different analysis techniques are employed that allow us to learn about the oscillation modes of clouds of these regimes as well as the size distribution of the structures developing in clouds of these regimes. In a theoretical approach, we develop a kinetic 3D model for the MOT with many-atom effects included and successfully use it in numerical simulations of our instabilities. We find qualitative agreements with the instability thresholds from the experiments as well as predict experimentally obtained instability regimes. We investigate the impact of our model’s physical ingredients on the instabilities, to aid the understanding of the complex physics at work. Finally, we show a preliminary simulated result for a self-oscillating instability in the misaligned MOT, known to experimentally exist, in that way demonstrating that our developed numerical tool can be employed beyond the balanced MOT.
Large clouds of cold atoms prepared in a magneto-optical trap can develop spatiotemporal instabilities when the frequency of the trapping lasers is brought close to the atomic resonance. This system bears close similarities with trapped plasmas, whereby effective Coulomb interactions are induced by the exchange of scattered photons and lead to collective nonlinear dynamics of the trapped atoms. We report in this paper a detailed experimental study of the instability threshold, and comparisons with three-dimensional simulations of the interacting, laser-driven cloud.