Related papers: Polarization vs. magnetic field: competing eigenba…
The optical properties of a fixed atom are well-known and investigated. For example, the extraordinarily large cross section of a single atom as seen by a resonant photon is essential for quantum optical applications. Mechanical effects…
Superpositions between states in doubly degenerate Kramers pairs can act as an internal degree of freedom. Here we uncover a Kramers dichroism in PT symmetric magnets: interband transitions induced by circularly polarized light irradiation…
We identify form-stable coupled excitations of light and matter (``dark-state polaritons'') associated with the propagation of quantum fields in Electromagnetically Induced Transparency. The properties of the dark-state polaritons such as…
The polarization state of the optical electromagnetic field lying several nanometers above complex dielectric structures reveals the intricate light-matter interaction that occurs in this near-field zone. This information can only be…
In a recent paper it is claimed that vacuum birefringence has been experimentally observed for the first time by measuring the degree of polarization of visible light from a Magnetar candidate, a neutron star with a magnetic field…
We present a novel optical cooling scheme that relies on hyperfine dark states to enhance loading and cooling atoms inside deep optical dipole traps. We demonstrate a seven-fold increase in the number of atoms loaded in the conservative…
We demonstrate optical control of the polarization eigenstates of a neutral quantum dot exciton without any external fields. By varying the excitation power of a circularly polarized laser in micro-photoluminescence experiments on…
We demonstrate demagnetization cooling of a gas of ultracold $^{52}$Cr atoms. Demagnetization is driven by inelastic dipolar collisions which couple the motional degrees of freedom to the spin degree. By that kinetic energy is converted…
Natural light harvesting systems exploit electronic coupling of identical chromophores to generate efficient and robust excitation transfer and conversion. Dark states created by strong coupling between chromophores in the antenna structure…
In atomic vapor cells, atoms collide with the inner surface, causing their spin to randomize on the walls. This wall-depolarizing effect is diffusive, and it becomes more pronounced in smaller vapor cells under high temperatures. In this…
Faraday rotation of a laser field induced by a single atom is demonstrated by tightly focussing a linearly polarized laser beam onto a laser-cooled ion held in a harmonic Paul trap. The polarization rotation signal is further used to…
Magnetic helicity, and more broadly magnetic field line topology, impose constraints on the plasma dynamics. Helically interlocked magnetic rings are in a non-trivial topological state. It is harder to bring them into a topologically…
Context. It has been suggested that collapsing magnetic traps may contribute to accelerating particles to high energies during solar flares. Aims. We present a detailed investigation of the energization processes of particles in collapsing…
The form of the eigenstates of an atom coupled to a cavity mode displaying a three dimensional periodic profile are obtained. It is shown that the quantized motion leads to degenerate states where the atomic degrees of freedom are masked,…
It is shown that polarizable neutral systems can drift in crossed magnetic and electric fileds. The drift velocity is perpendicular to both fields, but contrary to the drif t velocity of a charged particle, it exists only, if fields vary in…
Light-induced states are commonly observed in the photoionization spectra of laser-dressed atoms. The properties of autoionizing polaritons, entangled states of light and Auger resonances, however, are largely unexplored. We employ…
When a neutral atom moves in a properly designed laser field, its center-of-mass motion may mimic the dynamics of a charged particle in a magnetic field, with the emergence of a Lorentz-like force. In this Colloquium we present the physical…
We show that congruent electric, magnetic and non-resonant optical fields acting concurrently on a polar paramagnetic (and polarisable) molecule offer possibilities to both amplify and control the directionality of the ensuing molecular…
Each natural mode of the electromagnetic field within a parabolic mirror exhibits spatial localization and polarization properties that can be exploited for the quantum control of its interaction with atomic systems. The region of…
We report optical trapping and transport of nanoparticles in a moving interference pattern in hollow-core photonic crystal fiber at atmospheric pressure, when competition between trapping and drag forces causes the particle velocity to…