In-situ measurements of light diffusion in an optically dense atomic ensemble

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Glicenstein, Antoine, Apoorva, Apoorva, Orenes, Daniel Benedicto, Letellier, Hector, de Melo, Alvaro Mitchell Galvão, Saint-Jalm, Raphaël, Kaiser, Robin
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Glicenstein, Antoine
Apoorva, Apoorva
Orenes, Daniel Benedicto
Letellier, Hector
de Melo, Alvaro Mitchell Galvão
Saint-Jalm, Raphaël
Kaiser, Robin
author_facet Glicenstein, Antoine
Apoorva, Apoorva
Orenes, Daniel Benedicto
Letellier, Hector
de Melo, Alvaro Mitchell Galvão
Saint-Jalm, Raphaël
Kaiser, Robin
contents This study introduces a novel method to investigate in-situ light transport within optically thick ensembles of cold atoms, exploiting the internal structure of alkaline-earth metals. A method for creating an optical excitation at the center of a large atomic cloud is demonstrated, and we observe its propagation through multiple scattering events. In conditions where the cloud size is significantly larger than the transport mean free path, a diffusive regime is identified. We measure key parameters including the diffusion coefficient, transport velocity, and transport time, finding a good agreement with diffusion models. We also demonstrate that the frequency of the photons launched inside the system can be controlled. This approach enables direct time- and space-resolved observation of light diffusion in atomic ensembles, offering a promising avenue for exploring new diffusion regimes.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2409_11117
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle In-situ measurements of light diffusion in an optically dense atomic ensemble
Glicenstein, Antoine
Apoorva, Apoorva
Orenes, Daniel Benedicto
Letellier, Hector
de Melo, Alvaro Mitchell Galvão
Saint-Jalm, Raphaël
Kaiser, Robin
Atomic Physics
Optics
Quantum Physics
This study introduces a novel method to investigate in-situ light transport within optically thick ensembles of cold atoms, exploiting the internal structure of alkaline-earth metals. A method for creating an optical excitation at the center of a large atomic cloud is demonstrated, and we observe its propagation through multiple scattering events. In conditions where the cloud size is significantly larger than the transport mean free path, a diffusive regime is identified. We measure key parameters including the diffusion coefficient, transport velocity, and transport time, finding a good agreement with diffusion models. We also demonstrate that the frequency of the photons launched inside the system can be controlled. This approach enables direct time- and space-resolved observation of light diffusion in atomic ensembles, offering a promising avenue for exploring new diffusion regimes.
title In-situ measurements of light diffusion in an optically dense atomic ensemble
topic Atomic Physics
Optics
Quantum Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.11117