2014/02/19 by Thomas Maier, Sebastian Kraemer, Laurin Ostermann +1 · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Frequency and Time Standards #Atomic physics #Cold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates #Condensed matter physics #Laser #Laser cooling #Laser linewidth #Optical cavity #Optical lattice #Optics #Physics #Quantum #Quantum mechanics #Quantum optics and atomic interactions #Spontaneous emission #Ultracold atom #Wavelength #quant-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1364/oe.22.013269
arxiv created 2014/02/19 · openalex publication_date 2014/05/27 · arxiv updated 2015/06/18 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
An ideal superradiant laser on an optical clock transition of noninteracting cold atoms is predicted to exhibit an extreme frequency stability and accuracy far below mHz-linewidth. In any concrete setup sufficiently many atoms have to be confined and pumped within a finite cavity mode volume. Using a magic wavelength lattice minimizes light shifts and allows for almost uniform coupling to the cavity mode. Nevertheless, the atoms are subject to dipole-dipole interaction and collective spontaneous decay which compromises the ultimate frequency stability. In the high density limit the Dicke superradiant linewidth enhancement will broaden the laser line and nearest neighbor couplings will induce shifts and fluctuations of the laser frequency. We estimate the magnitude and scaling of these effects by direct numerical simulations of few atom systems for different geometries and densities. For Strontium in a regularly filled magic wavelength configuration atomic interactions induce small laser frequency shifts only and collective spontaneous emission weakly broadens the laser. These interactions generally enhance the laser sensitivity to cavity length fluctuations but for optimally chosen operating conditions can lead to an improved synchronization of the atomic dipoles.