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Observation of Collective Friction Forces due to Spatial Self-Organization of Atoms: From Rayleigh to Bragg Scattering

Adam T. Black, Hilton W. Chan, and Vladan Vuletić
Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 203001 – Published 11 November 2003
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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 π 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 1000m/s2 that is effective even for an open atomic transition.

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  • Received 23 April 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.91.203001

©2003 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Adam T. Black, Hilton W. Chan, and Vladan Vuletić

  • Department of Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-4060, USA

See Also

Atoms Team Up to Slow Down

Adrian Cho
Phys. Rev. Focus 12, 17 (2003)

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Issue

Vol. 91, Iss. 20 — 14 November 2003

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