Lasing by driven atoms-cavity system in collective strong coupling regime

Sawant, Rahul; Rangwala, S.A.

Abstract

The interaction of laser cooled atoms with resonant light is determined by the natural linewidth of the excited state. An optical cavity is another optically resonant system where the loss from the cavity determines the resonant optical response of the system. The near resonant combination of an optical Fabry-Pérot cavity with laser cooled and trapped atoms couples two distinct optical resonators via light and has great potential for precision measurements and the creation of versatile quantum optics systems. Here we show how driven magneto-optically trapped atoms in collective strong coupling regime with the cavity leads to lasing at a frequency red detuned from the atomic transition. Lasing is demonstrated experimentally by the observation of a lasing threshold accompanied by polarization and spatial mode purity, and line-narrowing in the outcoupled light. Spontaneous emission into the cavity mode by the driven atoms stimulates lasing action, which is capable of operating as a continuous wave laser in steady state, without a seed laser. The system is modeled theoretically, and qualitative agreement with experimentally observed lasing is seen. Our result opens up a range of new measurement possibilities with this system.

Citation

Sawant, R., & Rangwala, S. (2017). Lasing by driven atoms-cavity system in collective strong coupling regime. Scientific Reports, 7(1), Article 11432. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-11799-5

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 30, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Sep 12, 2017
• Publication Date: Sep 12, 2017
• Deposit Date: Jun 27, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 27, 2018
• Journal: Scientific Reports
• Electronic ISSN: 2045-2322
• Publisher: Nature Research
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 7
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 11432
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-11799-5
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1323416