Quantum threshold for optomechanical self-structuring in a Bose-Einstein condensate

Robb, G. R. M. and Tesio, E. and Oppo, G.-L. and Firth, W. J. and Ackemann, T. and Bonifacio, R. (2015) Quantum threshold for optomechanical self-structuring in a Bose-Einstein condensate. Physical Review Letters, 114 (17). 173903. ISSN 1079-7114 (https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.173903)

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Abstract

Theoretical analysis of the optomechanics of degenerate bosonic atoms with a single feedback mirror shows that self-structuring occurs only above an input threshold that is quantum mechanical in origin. This threshold also implies a lower limit to the size (period) of patterns that can be produced in a condensate for a given pump intensity. These thresholds are interpreted as due to the quantum rigidity of Bose-Einstein condensates, which has no classical counterpart. Above the threshold, the condensate self-organizes into an ordered supersolid state with a spatial period self-selected by optical diffraction.