Strong optical self-focusing effect in coherent light scattering with condensates

TL;DR

This paper theoretically demonstrates that in condensates, long red-detuned pulses induce a strong optical self-focusing effect, leading to rapid beam narrowing, enhanced scattering, and efficient atomic recoil through collective feedback mechanisms.

Contribution

It introduces a numerical analysis of optical self-focusing in condensates with long pulses, revealing a significant effect not previously characterized.

Findings

Rapid optical beam narrowing observed

Enhanced scattered field growth due to density feedback

Efficient collective atomic recoil motion achieved

Abstract

We present a theoretical investigation of optical self-focusing effects in light scattering with condensates. Using long (>200 \mu s), red-detuned pulses we show numerically that a non-negligible self-focusing effect is present that causes rapid optical beam width reduction as the scattered field propagates through a medium with an inhomogeneous density distribution. The rapid growth of the scattered field intensity and significant local density feedback positively to further enhance the wave generation process and condensate compression, leading to highly efficient collective atomic recoil motion.