Reply to Comment by Wolfgang Ketterle on "Electromagnetic Wave Dynamics in Matter-Wave Superradiant Scattering" (see arXiv:1010.3915)

TL;DR

This paper defends a comprehensive theoretical model of superradiance in condensates, emphasizing its ability to explain initial growth stages and detuning asymmetries that previous models failed to address.

Contribution

It clarifies that their theoretical framework uniquely accounts for both initial and final stages of superradiance, including detuning asymmetries, unlike prior models.

Findings

Their model explains red/blue pump detuning asymmetry.

It captures the initial growth stage of superradiance.

It demonstrates the limitations of previous rate-equation models.

Abstract

The Comment by Wolfgang Ketterle (Ref.[1]) purports to present a viable model of superradiance in condensates. However, Ref.[1] is not able to explain the red/blue pump detuning asymmetry that was first observed recently by us (Ref.[2]). It is clear from our original paper (Ref.[3]) that the rate-equation-based theories of Ref.[1] are incomplete since they only model the final growth stage of the process when a red-detuned pump is used. Our theoretical framework (Ref.[3]), on the other hand, also treats the initial growth stage of superradiance and is therefore also capable of explaining the genesis of the red/blue detuning asymmetry (Ref.[2]). This is the key message of our response, which we frame in terms of reference to the specific points raised in Ref. [1].