Optical linewidth of a low density Fermi-Dirac gas

TL;DR

This paper analytically investigates how quantum statistical correlations in a low-density Fermi-Dirac gas lead to a significant narrowing of the optical linewidth, revealing the impact of atomic correlations on light propagation.

Contribution

It provides the first analytical calculation of the leading density correction to optical linewidth in a Fermi-Dirac gas at zero temperature, highlighting the role of quantum correlations.

Findings

Quantum correlations cause line narrowing at low densities.

Analytical expression for density correction to linewidth.

Significant linewidth reduction due to atomic correlations.

Abstract

We study propagation of light in a Fermi-Dirac gas at zero temperature. We analytically obtain the leading density correction to the optical linewidth. This correction is a direct consequence of the quantum statistical correlations of atomic positions that modify the optical interactions between the atoms at small interatomic separations. The gas exhibits a dramatic line narrowing already at very low densities.