Optical pattern formation with a two-level nonlinearity

A. Camara; R. Kaiser; G. Labeyrie; W. J. Firth; G.-L. Oppo; G. R. M. Robb; A.S Arnold; T. Ackemann

doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.92.013820

Optical pattern formation with a two-level nonlinearity

A. Camara, R. Kaiser, G. Labeyrie, W. J. Firth, G.-L. Oppo, G. R. M. Robb, A.S Arnold, T. Ackemann

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Abstract

We present an experimental and theoretical investigation of spontaneous pattern formation in the transverse section of a single retroreflected laser beam passing through a cloud of cold rubidium atoms. In contrast to previously investigated systems, the nonlinearity at work here is that of a two-level atom, which realizes the paradigmatic situation considered in many theoretical studies of optical pattern formation. In particular, we are able to observe the disappearance of the patterns at high intensity due to the intrinsic saturable character of two-level atomic transitions.

Original language	English
Article number	013820
Number of pages	5
Journal	Physical Review A
Volume	92
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.92.013820
Publication status	Published - 13 Jul 2015

Keywords

atom lasers
laser beams
atomic transition
cold rubidium atoms
high intensity
optical pattern formation
spontaneous pattern formation
theoretical investigations
theoretical study
transverse section

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10.1103/PhysRevA.92.013820

Camara-etal-PR-2015-Optical-pattern-formation-with-a-two-levelFinal published version, 694 KB

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title = "Optical pattern formation with a two-level nonlinearity",

abstract = "We present an experimental and theoretical investigation of spontaneous pattern formation in the transverse section of a single retroreflected laser beam passing through a cloud of cold rubidium atoms. In contrast to previously investigated systems, the nonlinearity at work here is that of a two-level atom, which realizes the paradigmatic situation considered in many theoretical studies of optical pattern formation. In particular, we are able to observe the disappearance of the patterns at high intensity due to the intrinsic saturable character of two-level atomic transitions.",

keywords = "atom lasers, laser beams, atomic transition, cold rubidium atoms, high intensity, optical pattern formation, spontaneous pattern formation, theoretical investigations, theoretical study, transverse section",

author = "A. Camara and R. Kaiser and G. Labeyrie and Firth, {W. J.} and G.-L. Oppo and Robb, {G. R. M.} and A.S Arnold and T. Ackemann",

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T1 - Optical pattern formation with a two-level nonlinearity

AU - Camara, A.

AU - Kaiser, R.

AU - Labeyrie, G.

AU - Firth, W. J.

AU - Oppo, G.-L.

AU - Robb, G. R. M.

AU - Arnold, A.S

AU - Ackemann, T.

PY - 2015/7/13

Y1 - 2015/7/13

N2 - We present an experimental and theoretical investigation of spontaneous pattern formation in the transverse section of a single retroreflected laser beam passing through a cloud of cold rubidium atoms. In contrast to previously investigated systems, the nonlinearity at work here is that of a two-level atom, which realizes the paradigmatic situation considered in many theoretical studies of optical pattern formation. In particular, we are able to observe the disappearance of the patterns at high intensity due to the intrinsic saturable character of two-level atomic transitions.

AB - We present an experimental and theoretical investigation of spontaneous pattern formation in the transverse section of a single retroreflected laser beam passing through a cloud of cold rubidium atoms. In contrast to previously investigated systems, the nonlinearity at work here is that of a two-level atom, which realizes the paradigmatic situation considered in many theoretical studies of optical pattern formation. In particular, we are able to observe the disappearance of the patterns at high intensity due to the intrinsic saturable character of two-level atomic transitions.

KW - atom lasers

KW - laser beams

KW - atomic transition

KW - cold rubidium atoms

KW - high intensity

KW - optical pattern formation

KW - spontaneous pattern formation

KW - theoretical investigations

KW - theoretical study

KW - transverse section

UR - http://journals.aps.org/pra/issues

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DO - 10.1103/PhysRevA.92.013820

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VL - 92

JO - Physical Review A

JF - Physical Review A

IS - 1

M1 - 013820

ER -

Optical pattern formation with a two-level nonlinearity

Abstract

Keywords

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Cooperative effects and nonlinear optics in dense ensembles of cold atoms

SELF-ORGANIZATION OF COLD MATTER DUE TO OPTO-MECHANICAL COUPLING

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Optical pattern formation with a two-level nonlinearity

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

Cooperative effects and nonlinear optics in dense ensembles of cold atoms

SELF-ORGANIZATION OF COLD MATTER DUE TO OPTO-MECHANICAL COUPLING

Cite this