Theoretical background for observing ultra-slow microwaves in a Bose-Einstein condensate of alkali atoms

TL;DR

This paper introduces a microscopic theoretical approach to study ultra-slow microwave propagation in Bose-Einstein condensates of alkali atoms, highlighting conditions for pulse slowing with minimal energy loss and potential observation in cesium gases.

Contribution

It presents a new microscopic model for microwave propagation in BECs, analyzing pulse slowing and energy loss, including effects of hyperfine and Zeeman splitting.

Findings

Pulse slowing depends on system parameters.

Slowed signals can propagate with low energy loss.

Ultra-slow microwaves could be observed in cesium BECs.

Abstract

We represent a new microscopic approach that allows studying the propagation properties of microwaves in a Bose-Einstein condensate of alkali atoms. It is assumed that the frequency of signal is tuned up to the transition between hyperfine ground state levels of such atoms. Pulse slowing conditions dependence on the system parameters is found. It is shown that the slowed signal can propagate in mentioned system with rather small energy loss. Such phenomenon is also studied in case of hyperfine levels Zeeman splitting. A possibility of ultra-slow microwaves observing in a condensed gas of cesium atoms is discussed.