Collective behavior of optically trapped neutral atoms
Thad Walker,David Sesko, andCarl Wieman
- Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics, University of Colorado 440 National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0440
- Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0440
Phys. Rev. Lett.64, 408 –Published 22 January, 1990
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.
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Phys. Rev. Lett.64, 408– Published 22 January, 1990
- Received 5 October 1989
© 1990 American Physical Society