Abstract
We demonstrate that emission-induced self-organization of two-level atoms can effect strong damping of the sample’s center-of-mass motion. When illuminated by far-detuned light, cold cesium atoms assemble into a density grating that efficiently diffracts the incident light into an optical resonator. We observe random phase jumps of in the emitted light, confirming spontaneous symmetry breaking in the atomic self-organization. The Bragg diffraction results in a collective friction force with center-of-mass deceleration up to that is effective even for an open atomic transition.
- Received 23 April 2003
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.91.203001
©2003 American Physical Society