Rayleigh superradiance and dynamic Bragg gratings in an end-pumped Bose-Einstein condensate

TL;DR

This paper investigates superradiant Rayleigh scattering in a Bose-Einstein condensate, revealing how collective atom-light interactions create dynamic Bragg gratings that enhance back-scattering and form optical resonator structures.

Contribution

It introduces a new experimental regime considering pump depletion and photon exchange, demonstrating self-organized gratings within the BEC through combined experiments and simulations.

Findings

Dynamic Bragg gratings form within the BEC.

Enhanced back-scattering of pump photons observed.

Optical resonator structures emerge inside the condensate.

Abstract

We study experimentally superradiant Rayleigh scattering from a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) in a new parameter regime where pump depletion and the exchange of photons between the endfire modes are important. Through experiments and simulations we show that collective atom light coupling leads to the self-organized formation of dynamic Bragg gratings within the sample. These gratings lead to an efficient back-scattering of pump photons and optical resonator structures within the BEC.