Spatial intensity distribution of light under coherent interaction with single atoms

TL;DR

This paper analyzes how coherent interaction with single atoms affects the spatial intensity distribution of light, revealing interference patterns and the role of dispersion and dipole forces in the process.

Contribution

It introduces a semi-classical calculation method to dissect the interference components influencing light distribution near atoms, highlighting the dispersion contribution.

Findings

Interference causes alternating constructive and destructive light regions.

Dispersion component persists over time, affecting atomic reactions.

Dipole forces relate to the non-vanishing dispersion component.

Abstract

Variations in the spatial intensity distribution of light caused by coherent interaction with two-level atoms are determined by semi-classically calculating a term for interference between incident light and spherical radiation from the atom. The interference term is divided into two components: one oscillates at the Rabi frequency corresponding to absorption and stimulated emission, and the other contributes to dispersion. The spatial distribution of both components involves alternation of constructive and destructive parts in the form of parabolic surfaces where light energy flows. Although the time average over the Rabi oscillation of the former component vanishes at every position, that of the latter remains. The light-related reaction of a dipole force acting on an atom is considered to appear in the non-vanishing latter component.