Demonstration of strong coupling of a subradiant atom array to a cavity vacuum
Abstract
By considering linear scattering of laser-driven cold atoms inside an undriven high-finesse optical resonator, we experimentally demonstrate effects unique to a strongly coupled vacuum field. Arranging the atoms in an incommensurate lattice with respect to the radiation wavelength, the Bragg scattering into the cavity can be suppressed by destructive interference: the atomic array is subradiant to the cavity mode under transverse illumination. We show however, that strong collective coupling leads to a drastic modification of the excitation spectrum, as evidenced by well-resolved vacuum Rabi splitting in the intensity of the fluctuations. Furthermore, we demonstrate a significant polarization rotation in the linear scattering off the subradiant array via Raman scattering induced by the strongly coupled vacuum field.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.2408.17079,
title = {Demonstration of strong coupling of a subradiant atom array to a cavity vacuum},
author = {Bence Gábor and K. V. Adwaith and Dániel Varga and Bálint Sárközi and Árpád Kurkó and András Dombi and T. W. Clark and F. I. B. Williams and David Nagy and András Vukics and Peter Domokos},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2408.17079},
year = {2025}
}