Bounds on the propagation of light in cold atomic clouds

• Grant number: 14/50744-9
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: August 01, 2015 - July 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Atomic and Molecular Physics
• Cooperation agreement: Stellenbosch University
• Mobility Program: SPRINT - Projetos de pesquisa - Mobilidade
• Principal researcher: Romain Pierre Marcel Bachelard
• Grantee: Romain Pierre Marcel Bachelard
• Principal researcher abroad: Michaeil Kastner
• Institution abroad: Stellenbosch University, South Africa
• Home Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 14/01491-0 - Atomic clouds under stress, AP.JP

Abstract

This project aims at investigating light propagation in clouds of cold atoms, using analytical and numerical tools. This is a timely topic on the borderline between optics, atomic physics, and condensed matter physics, strongly linked to recent experimental activity. Our aim is to go beyond a macroscopic description of cold atomic clouds (on the level of refractive indices, group and phase velocities, etc.) by tackling the problem on the level of quantum mechanical time evolution equations. This already challenging task is complicated by the fact that the light field leads to effective long-range interactions between the atoms in the cloud, leading to an all-to-all coupling. While an exact solution is out of reach, we plan on deriving upper bounds on expectation values of physical relevant observables, such as dipolar excitation propagation. Progress on this project relies on bringing together the Brazilian investigator's expertise on light scattering and numerical techniques, and the South African investigator's expertise in analytical techniques for quantum dynamics. The results we expect to obtain will further the understanding of light propagation in ordered and disordered ultracold matter. Special attention will be given to the inelastic scattering regime in presence of a strong driving field, when correlations play an important role. (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)

PUCCI, LORENZO; ROY, ANALABHA; SANTIAGO DO ESPIRITO SANTO, TIAGO; KAISER, ROBIN; KASTNER, MICHAEL; BACHELARD, ROMAIN. Quantum effects in the cooperative scattering of light by atomic clouds. Physical Review A, v. 95, n. 5 MAY 22 2017. Web of Science Citations: 8.