Subwavelength Transportation of Light with Atomic Resonances

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel atomic-resonance-based optical waveguide enabling subwavelength light transport with minimal loss, robustness to positional fluctuations, and potential for integration in optical circuits.

Contribution

It proposes a new waveguide design using atomic arrays that supports low-loss, subwavelength light propagation without traditional scattering mechanisms.

Findings

Supports propagating mode with minimal radiative loss at specific spacing

Robust transport despite atomic position fluctuations

Effective on circular atomic arrangements

Abstract

We propose and investigate a new type of optical waveguide made by an array of atoms without involving conventional Bragg scattering or total internal reflection. A finite chain of atoms collectively coupled through their intrinsic resonance supports a propagating mode with minimal radiative loss when the array spacing $a$ is around 0.6$\lambda_0/2\pi$ where $\lambda_0$ is the wavelength of the nearly resonant optical transition. We find that the transportation is robust with respect to position fluctuation and remains possible when the atoms are placed on a circle. Our result paves the way to implement the subwavelength transportation of light in integrated optical circuits with cold atoms.