Phys.org August 1, 2022
Light-matter interaction is well understood on the single-atom level and routinely used to manipulate atomic gases. However, in denser ensembles, collective effects emerge that are caused by light-induced dipole-dipole interactions and multiple photon scattering. An international team of researchers (Austria, Germany) found a mechanical deformation of a cloud of ultracold 87Rb atoms due to the collective interplay of the atoms and a homogenous light field. The collective light scattering results in a self-confining potential which exhibits nonlocal properties, attractive for both red- and blue-detuned light fields and induces a remarkably strong force that depends on the gradient of the atomic density. They discussed their experimental observations in the 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