The onset of matter-wave amplification in a superradiant Bose-Einstein condensate.

Schneble, Dominik; Torii, Yoshio; Boyd, Micah; Streed, Erik W; Pritchard, David E; Ketterle, Wolfgang · Science · 2003

basic_science · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

The interaction of short and strong laser pulses with an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate is found to generate patterns of recoiling atoms that are different from those seen in previous light-scattering experiments. This phenomenon can only be explained by optical stimulation, showing that the previous description of superradiance as atomic stimulation is incomplete and that matter-wave amplification in Bose-Einstein condensates is suppressed at short times. Our experiments clarify the nature of bosonic stimulation in the four-wave mixing of light and atoms.