Optical interpretation of linear-optics superradiance and subradiance
Abstract
Super- and subradiance are usually described in the framework of Dicke collective states, which is an ``atomic picture'' in which the electromagnetic field only provides an effective interaction between the atoms. Here, we discuss a complementary picture, in which we describe the propagation and scattering of light in the atomic medium, which provides a complex susceptibility and scatterers. This ``optical picture'' is valid in the linear-optics regime for disordered samples and is mainly relevant at low density, when the susceptibility and scattering cross-section can be computed from simple textbook formulas. In this picture, superradiance is a dispersion effect due to a single scattering event dressed by an effective refractive index, whereas subradiance is due to multiple scattering. We present numerical and experimental data supporting our interpretation.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2209.00918,
title = {Optical interpretation of linear-optics superradiance and subradiance},
author = {S. Asselie and A. Cipris and W. Guerin},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2209.00918},
year = {2023}
}