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Threshold of a random laser with cold atoms
Luis S Froufe-Pérez1, William Guerin, Rémi Carminati
1Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, CSIC, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz 3, Cantoblanco, Madrid 28049, Spain.
Physical Review Letters
|June 13, 2009
Summary
Researchers achieved optical random lasers using cold atoms, where atoms provide both gain and scattering. A critical optical thickness parameter predicts lasing, with results achievable in current experiments.
Area of Science:
- Atomic physics
- Quantum optics
- Laser physics
Background:
- Optical random lasers offer unique light emission properties.
- Achieving lasing in cold atomic ensembles presents challenges in gain and scattering control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the feasibility of creating an optical random laser using a cloud of cold atoms.
- To define a critical parameter for lasing threshold and predict emitted light characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing two distinct light transport models.
- Employing atomic polarizability of a strongly pumped two-level atom.
- Defining the on-resonance optical thickness (b0) as the critical parameter.
Main Results:
- A critical optical thickness (b0) of approximately 300 was identified as the lasing threshold.
- Quantitative predictions for threshold, emitted power, and frequency were made.
- Random lasing was found to be possible even at relatively low scattering levels.
Conclusions:
- The study demonstrates a viable pathway to optical random lasers in cold atom systems.
- The critical optical thickness parameter provides a clear metric for achieving lasing.
- Experimental realization is feasible with current cold-atom technologies.
