Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ANDLICA (Anderson Localization of Light by Cold Atoms)
Berichtszeitraum: 2021-04-01 bis 2022-09-30
The goal of this ERC-ADG project is to understand a long standing question about Anderson localization of light in three dimensions. This topic appear at first sight to be an easy problem, as it can be formulated as a classical optic problem. When considering the scattering medium however, it is a genuine (classical) many body problem with no analytical solution. Initial universal predictions were believed for decades to be valid for all types of systems. However more recently, the community came to understand that details of how photons propagate are crucial and completely change the features. As no experimental so far has observed Anderson localization of light in three dimensions, it is important to clarify under which conditions such an effect can exist.
This line of research is part of the ongoing effort to understand details of coherent photonic transport, in particular in presence of disorder or defects.
The main objective of this project is to observe Anderson localization of light in cold atomic samples, which appear to be a promising platform allowing for detailed control of many relevant parameters and an ab initio modeling.
This line of research is part of the ongoing effort to understand details of coherent photonic transport, in particular in presence of disorder or defects.
The main objective of this project is to observe Anderson localization of light in cold atomic samples, which appear to be a promising platform allowing for detailed control of many relevant parameters and an ab initio modeling.
A new experiment on laser cooled and trapped Ytterbium atoms has been constructed.
The theoretical studies have been pushed to incorporate (i) details of preparing specific cooperative states beyond the classical optics regime and (ii) collective atomic motion induced by radiation pressure.
The theoretical studies have been pushed to incorporate (i) details of preparing specific cooperative states beyond the classical optics regime and (ii) collective atomic motion induced by radiation pressure.
Optical pumping of atoms into long lived states via higher excited levels is a novel and promissing effect, which has not been anticipated at the beginning of this project.
The expected results until the end of the project will be to create experimental conditions where Anderson localization of light in three dimension is expected and to identify suitable experimental observables.
The expected results until the end of the project will be to create experimental conditions where Anderson localization of light in three dimension is expected and to identify suitable experimental observables.