62 research outputs found
Laser scattering by density fluctuations of ultra-cold atoms in a magneto-optical trap
We study the spectrum of density fluctuations in the ultra-cold gas of
neutral atoms, confined in a magneto-optical trap. We determine the
corresponding amplitude and spectra of laser light scattered by this medium. We
derive an expression for the dynamical structure function, by using a test
particle method. We propose to use the collective laser scattering as a
diagnostic method for the microscopic properties of the ultra-cold matter. This
will also allow us to check on the atomic correlations which are mediated by
the collective mean field inside the gas.Comment: J. Phys. B (in press
A phonon laser in ultra-cold matter
We show the possible excitation of a phonon laser instability in an
ultra-cold atomic gas confined in a magneto-optical trap. Such an effect
results from a negative Landau damping of the collective density perturbations
in the gas, leading to the coherent emission of phonons. This laser instability
can be driven by a blue-detuned laser superimposed to the usual red-detuning
laser beams which usually provide the cooling mechanism. Threshold conditions,
instability growth rates and saturation levels are derived. This work
generalizes, on theoretical grounds, the recent results obtained with single
ion phonon laser, to an ultra-cold atomic gas, where real phonons can be
excited. Future phonon lasers could thus adequately be called phasers.Comment: 4 pages, submitted to PR
Driven collective instabilities in magneto-optical traps: a fluid-dynamical approach
We present a theoretical model to describe an instability mechanism in
ultra-cold gases, where long-range interactions are taken into account.
Focusing on the nonlinear coupling between the collective (plasma-like) and the
center-of-mass modes, we show that the resulting dynamics is governed by a
parametric equation of the generalized Mathieu type and compute the
corresponding stability chart. We apply our model to typical ranges of
magneto-optical traps (MOT) parameters and find a good agreement with previous
experimental observations.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. Some minor changes in the published version
Bump-on-tail instability of twisted excitations in rotating cold atomic clouds
We develop a kinetic theory for twisted density waves (phonons), carrying a
finite amount of orbital angular momentum, in large magneto optical traps,
where the collective processes due to the exchange of scattered photons are
considered. Explicit expressions for the dispersion relation and for the
kinetic (Landau) damping are derived and contributions from the orbital angular
momentum are discussed. We show that for rotating clouds, exhibiting
ring-shaped structures, phonons carrying orbital angular momentum can cross the
instability threshold and grow out of noise, while the usual plane wave
solutions are kinetically damped.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure
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