Science Daily August 1, 2022
An international team of researchers (Austria, Germany) has observed a mechanical deformation of a cloud of ultracold 87Rb atoms due to the collective interplay of the atoms and a homogenous light field. This collective light scattering resulted in a self-confining potential with interesting features: It exhibited nonlocal properties, attractive for both red- and blue-detuned light fields and induced a remarkably strong force that depends on the gradient of the atomic density. In the article they discuss their experimental observations framework of a theoretical model based on a local-field approach for the light scattered by the atomic cloud. According to the researchers their study provides a new angle on light propagation in high-density ensembles and expands the range of tools available for tailoring interactions in ultracold atomic gases…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
3D illustration of the experimental setup… Credit: Phys. Rev. X 12, 031018, 27 July 2022Â