Cooperative stochastic heating and optical binding with cold atoms

• Grant number: 19/12842-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: December 01, 2019
• End date: November 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Atomic and Molecular Physics
• Mobility Program: SPRINT - Projetos de pesquisa - Mobilidade
• Principal Investigator: Romain Pierre Marcel Bachelard
• Grantee: Romain Pierre Marcel Bachelard
• Principal researcher abroad: Nicola Umberto Cesare Piovella
• Institution abroad: Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/15554-5 - Transport and localization of light in two and three dimensions, AP.JP2

Abstract

Large ensembles of cold atoms present strong cooperative properties as they scatter light, which results in a modified spontaneous emission. While cooperative scattering has been extensively studied up to date, its consequences on stochastic effects and on optical forces are still to be investigated, and it is the two objectives of the present project. The first goal will be to elucidate whether random emission events resulting from modes of cooperative scattering enhance or rather reduce the heating. The second goal addresses the optical binding regime, when mutual optical forces lead to a self-organization of the cloud. The two PIs have recently shown that optical binding of N=2 cold atoms is possible, although stochastic effects (spontaneous emission) challenge the stability of these pair states. In this project, we will take advantage of superradiance to show that the cooling mechanism that make these states possible can be amplified to the point where it can counter stochastic effects: Our study will focus both on 1D chains and 2D lattices, as the dimensionality affects in a critical way the cooperation strength. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

GISBERT, ANGEL T.; PIOVELLA, NICOLA; BACHELARD, ROMAIN. Cooperative cooling in a one-dimensional chain of optically bound cold atoms. Physical Review A, v. 102, n. 1, JUL 14 2020. (18/01447-2, 18/15554-5, 19/12842-2)

GISBERT, ANGEL T.; PIOVELLA, NICOLA; BACHELARD, ROMAIN. Cooperative cooling in a one-dimensional chain of optically bound cold atoms. PHYSICAL REVIEW A, v. 102, n. 1, p. 8-pg., 2020-07-14. (18/01447-2, 18/15554-5, 19/12842-2)

PIOVELLA, N.; ROBB, G. R. M.; BACHELARD, R.. Superradiant transfer of quantized orbital angular momentum between light and atoms in a ring trap. PHYSICAL REVIEW A, v. 106, n. 1, p. 5-pg., 2022-07-28. (18/15554-5, 19/13143-0, 19/12842-2)