Light-Induced Dipole-Dipole Forces in Ultracold Atomic Gases

I will present our work on light induced dipole-dipole (LI-DD) interactions provoked by a spatially homogenous laser beam in a cloud of freely expanding ultracold 87Rb atoms [1]. This light-triggered collective effect results in a self-confining potential with interesting features: it exhibits nonlocal properties, it is attractive for both red and blue-detuned light fields and it induces a strong force that depends on the gradient of the atomic density. For our experimental parameters we reach remarkably deep self-confining potentials corresponding to a trap depth of up to 8 µK. This LI-DD potential minimum is intrinsically tied to the atomic ensemble and can freely evolve in additional external potentials.

[1] Observation of Light-Induced Dipole-Dipole Forces in Ultracold Atomic Gases

M. Maiwöger, M. Sonnleitner, T. Zhang, I. Mazets, M. Mallweger, D. Rätzel, F. Borselli, S. Erne, J. Schmiedmayer, P. Haslinger

arXiv:2202.00562