Abstract
A new class of laser, which harnesses coherence in both light and atoms, is possible with the use of ultra-cold alkaline earth atoms trapped in an optical lattice inside an optical cavity. Different lasing regimes, including superradiance, superradiant and conventional lasing, are distinguished by the relative coherence stored in the atoms and in the cavity mode. We analyze the physics in two different experimentally achievable regions of the superradiant lasing regime. Our calculations confirm the narrow linewidth of superradiant lasing for the doubly forbidden clock transition ${}^3 P_0 \to {}^1 S_0$ of strontium-87 atoms. Under strong driving of the dipole-forbidden transition ${}^3 P_1 \to {}^1 S_0$ of strontium-88 atoms the superradiant linewidth narrows further due to the coherent excitation of the cavity field.
Highlights
Recent theoretical [4–6] and experimental [7–9] studies showed that steady-state superradiance may yield lasing with millihertz line-width from ultra-cold alkaline earth atoms trapped in an optical lattice inside an optical cavity, see Fig
We have studied lasing in the peculiar situation offered by ultra-cold strontium atoms trapped in an optical lattice inside an optical cavity, where coherence can be maintained in both the atoms and the cavity field
We showed that the system explores subradiance, superradiance and superradiant lasing regimes with increasing pumping rate
Summary
In a conventional laser [1], amplification and optical phase coherence is established by stimulated photon emission from a population-inverted medium This results in the Schawlow-Townes [2] spectral line-width, inversely proportional to the photon number in the cavity. Recent theoretical [4–6] and experimental [7–9] studies showed that steady-state superradiance may yield lasing with millihertz line-width from ultra-cold alkaline earth atoms trapped in an optical lattice inside an optical cavity, see Fig.. Recent theoretical [4–6] and experimental [7–9] studies showed that steady-state superradiance may yield lasing with millihertz line-width from ultra-cold alkaline earth atoms trapped in an optical lattice inside an optical cavity, see Fig.1 Such a superradiant laser can operate either in a superradiant regime with less than one cavity photon and only atomic coherence [3] or in a superradiant crossover regime with multiple photons and coherences in both the emitters and the cavity field [10]. We provide concluding remarks and comment on possible developments in future
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