Matter-wave analog of an optical random laser

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a matter-wave analog of a random laser using a Bose-Einstein condensate in a disordered potential, where Anderson localization acts as a band-pass filter to select specific atomic modes.

Contribution

It introduces a novel matter-wave laser system based on Anderson localization in a disordered potential, expanding the concept of optical random lasers to matter waves.

Findings

Atoms are accumulated in the lowest energy level of a trap.

Disorder potential enables Anderson localization as a band-pass filter.

Selected atomic modes form a matter-wave analog of a random laser.

Abstract

The accumulation of atoms in the lowest energy level of a trap and the subsequent out-coupling of these atoms is a realization of a matter-wave analog of a conventional optical laser. Optical random lasers require materials that provide optical gain but, contrary to conventional lasers, the modes are determined by multiple scattering and not a cavity. We show that a Bose-Einstein condensate can be loaded in a spatially correlated disorder potential prepared in such a way that the Anderson localization phenomenon operates as a band-pass filter. A multiple scattering process selects atoms with certain momenta and determines laser modes which represents a matter-wave analog of an optical random laser.