Abstract
We describe experiments that show collective behavior in clouds of optically trapped neutral atoms. This collective behavior is demonstrated in a variety of observed spatial distributions with abrupt bistable transitions between them. These distributions include stable rings of atoms around a small core and clumps of atoms rotating about the core. The size of the cloud grows rapidly as more atoms are loaded into it, implying a strong long-range repulsive force between the atoms. We show that a force arising from radiation trapping can explain much of this behavior.
Keywords
TrappingBistabilityEnergetic neutral atomPhysicsAtomic physicsCore (optical fiber)Range (aeronautics)Collective behaviorChemical physicsMaterials scienceIonOpticsQuantum mechanics
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Publication Info
- Year
- 1990
- Type
- article
- Volume
- 64
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 408-411
- Citations
- 337
- Access
- Closed
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Cite This
Thad Walker,
D. Sesko,
Carl Wieman
(1990).
Collective behavior of optically trapped neutral atoms.
Physical Review Letters
, 64
(4)
, 408-411.
https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.64.408
Identifiers
- DOI
- 10.1103/physrevlett.64.408