Heterodyne measurement of the electric field of light transmitted by a dense sample of cold atoms

• Grant number: 24/04995-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2024
• End date: December 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Atomic and Molecular Physics
• Principal Investigator: Raul Celistrino Teixeira
• Grantee: Thales Martins Batista Pereira
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/23873-3 - Coherent transport of light in dense atomic clouds, AP.JP

Abstract

This scientific initiation project is linked to a young researcher grant that aims to study the scattering of light by a dense sample of cold strontium atoms. Within this context, this project aims to implement a measurement of the electric field of light transmitted through a dense and disordered atomic sample. The measurement of the electric field will extend the parameter regime for which we can characterize the true optical density of the cloud, relative to the possibilities established by the measurement of the transmitted light intensity. Furthermore, the phase of the electric field will allow us to obtain the refractive index of the dense sample, of high fundamental interest. The Scientific Initiation student will initially establish, theoretically, the different sources of noise expected for the system, thus determining the expected signal-to-noise ratio. Afterwards, it will implement the electronics responsible for heterodyne measurement of the electric field, and characterize the noise with a calibrated signal (laser light of known power and phase). Finally, he will participate in the implementation of the system in our main experiment, following the work of the doctoral student and post-doc responsible for the experiment.