arXiv · 2601.08978
Collective inhibition of light scattering from atoms into an optical cavity at a magic frequency
Abstract
We report on the observation of a new magic frequency within the hyperfine structure of the D2 line of ${}^{87}$Rb atoms at which the scattering of light into a high-finesse cavity is suppressed by an interplay between quantum interference and the strong collective coupling of atoms to the cavity. Scattering from a cloud of laser-driven cold atoms into the cavity was measured in a polarization sensitive way. We have found that both the Rayleigh and Raman scattering processes into the near-resonant cavity modes are extinguished at 185 MHz below the F=2$\leftrightarrow$F'=3 transition frequency. This coincidence together with the shape of the observed spectral dip imply that the effect relies on a quantum interference in the polariton excitations of the strongly coupled combined atom-photon system. We have also demonstrated the existence of a magic frequency around -506 MHz, where only the Raman scattering is suppressed due to a quantum interference effect at the single-atom level.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Explore connections, maps & timelines
Á. Kurkó, B. Gábor, D. Varga, A. Simon, T. Barmashova, A. Dombi, T. W. Clark, F. I. B. Williams, D. Nagy, A. Vukics, P. Domokos. 2026-01-13. Collective inhibition of light scattering from atoms into an optical cavity at a magic frequency. https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.08978
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.