Optical pattern formation with a two-level nonlinearity

Camara, A. and Kaiser, R. and Labeyrie, G. and Firth, W. J. and Oppo, G.-L. and Robb, G. R. M. and Arnold, A. S. and Ackemann, T. (2015) Optical pattern formation with a two-level nonlinearity. Physical Review A, 92 (1). 013820. ISSN 1050-2947 (https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.92.013820)

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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.

ORCID iDs

Camara, A., Kaiser, R., Labeyrie, G., Firth, W. J., Oppo, G.-L. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5376-4309, Robb, G. R. M. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3004-5926, Arnold, A. S. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7084-6958 and Ackemann, T. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2727-7395;
  • Item type:Article
    ID code:54086
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    13 July 2015
    Published
    Notes:Date of Accepted: 20/06/2015
    Keywords:atom lasers, laser beams, atomic transition, cold rubidium atoms, high intensity, optical pattern formation, spontaneous pattern formation, theoretical investigations, theoretical study, transverse section, Optics. Light, Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
    Subjects:Science > Physics > Optics. Light
    Department:University of Strathclyde > University of Strathclyde
    Faculty of Science > Physics
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:27 Aug 2015 09:44
    Last modified:22 Feb 2022 01:18
    Related URLs:
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/54086
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