Resonant Atom Traps for Electromagnetic Waves

TL;DR

This paper explores the theoretical existence of electromagnetic wave traps in atomic media, which could serve as low-loss waveguides and energy storage devices with potential applications in accelerators and electromagnetic phenomena like ball lightning.

Contribution

It demonstrates the possibility of resonant electromagnetic wave traps in atomic media with low loss, expanding understanding of wave confinement and energy accumulation in such systems.

Findings

Existence of trapped electromagnetic waves in atomic media.

Potential for low-loss waveguides using atomic lattices.

Energy accumulation in gas-based traps could mimic ball lightning.

Abstract

Exitation of atomic levels due to interaction with electromagnetic waves has been the subject of numerous works, both experimental and theoretical. This topic became of interest in accelerator physics in relation to high efficiency charge exchange injection into rings for high beam power applications. Taking equations of resonant atom-wave interaction equations as a basis, this paper shows that there exist some interesting phenomena which lead to the existence of trapped electomagnetic waves (photon traps) in a medium that consists of atoms with transition frequencies in proximity to the wave frequency. These traps may exist in random and periodic lattices, and may have very low loss rate. The atomic medium can serve as an excellent wavegiude or tool to form and transmit electromagnetic waves for applications to accelerators and to electromagnetic devices in general, where high pressure gas use is acceptable. In addition, such traps in gases may accumulate substantial energy for a long period of time, leading to the possibility of creating objects similar (or equivalent) to ball lightning.