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arXiv · 1406.2655

The Atomic Lighthouse Effect

C. E. Máximo·R. Kaiser·Ph. W. Courteille·R. Bachelard
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Abstract

We investigate the deflection of light by a cold atomic cloud when the light-matter interaction is locally tuned via the Zeeman effect using magnetic field gradients. This "lighthouse" effect is strongest in the single-scattering regime, where deviation of the incident field is largest. For optically dense samples, the deviation is reduced by collective effects, as the increase in linewidth leads to a decrease of the magnetic field efficiency.

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C. E. Máximo, R. Kaiser, Ph. W. Courteille, R. Bachelard. 2014-06-10. The Atomic Lighthouse Effect. https://doi.org/10.1364/josaa.31.002511

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