Structured light and ultracold atoms in a driven optical cavity

Abstract

We consider a far-red-detuned optical cavity, driven by a pump, which contains an ultracold atomic medium. Using coupled partial differential equations which describe the evolution of the atomic and optical fields, we demonstrate that our model leads to novel self-structuring, led by the optical field through the dipole force, within the ultracold atomic medium. Introducing OAM to the optical pump, we demonstrate that these structures may be made to rotate, forming atomic fields analogous to persistent phase currents.