Coherent backscattering of light with nonlinear atomic scatterers

T. Wellens, B. Grémaud, D. Delande, and C. Miniatura
Phys. Rev. A 73, 013802 – Published 4 January 2006

Abstract

We study coherent backscattering of a monochromatic laser by a dilute gas of cold two-level atoms in the weakly nonlinear regime. The nonlinear response of the atoms results in a modification of both the average field propagation (nonlinear refractive index) and the scattering events. Using a perturbative approach, the nonlinear effects arise from inelastic two-photon scattering processes. We present a detailed diagrammatic derivation of the elastic and inelastic components of the backscattering signal for both scalar and vectorial photons. In particular, we show that the coherent backscattering phenomenon originates in some cases from the interference between three different scattering amplitudes. This is in marked contrast with the linear regime where it is due to the interference between two different scattering amplitudes. In particular we show that, if elastically scattered photons are filtered out from the photodetection signal, the nonlinear backscattering enhancement factor exceeds the linear barrier of 2, consistently with a three-amplitude interference effect.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
6 More
  • Received 16 September 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.73.013802

©2006 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

T. Wellens1,2, B. Grémaud2, D. Delande2, and C. Miniatura1

  • 1Institut Non Linéaire de Nice, UMR 6618, 1361 route des Lucioles, F-06560 Valbonne, France
  • 2Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 4 Place Jussieu, F-75005 Paris, France

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 73, Iss. 1 — January 2006

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review A

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×