Effect of light assisted collisions on matter wave coherence in superradiant Bose-Einstein condensates

TY - JOUR

T1 - Effect of light assisted collisions on matter wave coherence in superradiant Bose-Einstein condensates

AU - Kampel, Nir Shlomo

AU - Griesmaier, Axel Rudolf

AU - Steenstrup, Mads Peter Hornbak

AU - Kaminski, Franziska

AU - Polzik, Eugene Simon

AU - Müller, Jörg Helge

PY - 2012/2/27

Y1 - 2012/2/27

N2 - We investigate experimentally the effects of light assisted collisions on the coherence between momentum states in Bose-Einstein condensates. The onset of superradiant Rayleigh scattering serves as a sensitive monitor for matter-wave coherence. A subtle interplay of binary and collective effects leads to a profound asymmetry between the two sides of the atomic resonance and provides far bigger coherence loss rates for a condensate bathed in blue detuned light than previously estimated. We present a simplified quantitative model containing the essential physics to explain our experimental data and point at a new experimental route to study strongly coupled light matter systems

AB - We investigate experimentally the effects of light assisted collisions on the coherence between momentum states in Bose-Einstein condensates. The onset of superradiant Rayleigh scattering serves as a sensitive monitor for matter-wave coherence. A subtle interplay of binary and collective effects leads to a profound asymmetry between the two sides of the atomic resonance and provides far bigger coherence loss rates for a condensate bathed in blue detuned light than previously estimated. We present a simplified quantitative model containing the essential physics to explain our experimental data and point at a new experimental route to study strongly coupled light matter systems

U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.090401

DO - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.090401

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 22463618

SN - 0031-9007

VL - 108

SP - 090401

JO - Physical Review Letters

JF - Physical Review Letters

IS - 9

ER -