All-optical control of superradiance and matter waves using a dispersive cavity

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel all-optical, dynamically controllable cavity using atomic mirrors based on EIT, enabling manipulation of superradiance and matter waves in atom optics.

Contribution

It introduces a new type of dispersive cavity with atomic mirrors controlled by optical fields, allowing dynamic control of light-matter interactions without mechanical parts.

Findings

Atomic mirror reflectance is highly tunable via EIT.

Demonstrated control over vacuum-induced diffraction of BEC.

Showed potential for all-optical atom optics applications.

Abstract

Cavity quantum electrodynamics (CQED) plays an elegant role of studying strong coupling between light and matter. However, a non-mechanical, direct and dynamical control of the used mirrors is still unavailable. Here we theoretically investigate a novel type of dynamically controllable cavity composed of two atomic mirrors. Based on the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT), the reflectance of atomic mirror is highly controllable through its dispersive properties by varying the intensity of applied coupling fields or the optical depth of atomic media. To demonstrate the uniqueness of the present cavity, we further show the possibility of manipulating vacuum-induced diffraction of a binary Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) when loading it into a dispersive cavity and experiencing superradiant scatterings. Our results may provide a novel all-optical element for atom optics and shine new light on controlling light-matter interaction.