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Cooperative Lamb Shift in an Atomic Vapor Layer of Nanometer Thickness

J. Keaveney, A. Sargsyan, U. Krohn, I. G. Hughes, D. Sarkisyan, and C. S. Adams
Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 173601 – Published 23 April 2012
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Abstract

We present an experimental measurement of the cooperative Lamb shift and the Lorentz shift using a nanothickness atomic vapor layer with tunable thickness and atomic density. The cooperative Lamb shift arises due to the exchange of virtual photons between identical atoms. The interference between the forward and backward propagating virtual fields is confirmed by the thickness dependence of the shift, which has a spatial frequency equal to twice that of the optical field. The demonstration of cooperative interactions in an easily scalable system opens the door to a new domain for nonlinear optics.

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  • Received 25 January 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.173601

© 2012 American Physical Society

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Photons and Atoms Cooperate, Virtually

Published 23 April 2012

Shifts in atomic energy levels caused by electron interaction with virtual photons can also occur in an ensemble of atoms acting cooperatively.

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Authors & Affiliations

J. Keaveney1, A. Sargsyan2, U. Krohn1, I. G. Hughes1, D. Sarkisyan2, and C. S. Adams1,*

  • 1Department of Physics, Rochester Building, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
  • 2Institute for Physical Research, National Academy of Sciences—Ashtarak 2, 0203, Armenia

  • *c.s.adams@durham.ac.uk

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Issue

Vol. 108, Iss. 17 — 27 April 2012

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