Role of disorder in super- and subradiance of cold atomic clouds

TL;DR

This paper investigates superradiance and subradiance in cold atomic clouds, demonstrating their presence in both microscopic and mean-field models, especially in high optical depth, far-detuned regimes, independent of disorder.

Contribution

It shows that super- and subradiance are inherent phenomena in atomic media models, not reliant on disorder, and are prominent in high optical depth, far-detuned conditions.

Findings

Superradiance and subradiance occur in both microscopic and mean-field models.

These phenomena are most prominent in high optical depth, far-detuned regimes.

Disorder is not essential for super- and subradiance to occur.

Abstract

The presence of superradiance and subradiance in microscopic and mean-field approaches to light scattering in atomic media is investigated. We show that these phenomena are present in both descriptions, with only minor quantitative differences, so neither rely on disorder. In particular, they are most prominent in media with high resonant optical depth yet far-detuned light, i.e.. in the single--scattering regime.