Atom binding and reflection by spatially inhomogeneous spontaneous emission

Y. Japha, V. M. Akulin, G. Kurizki

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Remarkable quantum effects are predicted for an initially excited two-level wave packet incident on a broadband vacuum-field reservoir with sharp spatial boundaries: (a) reflection of the excited wave packet from the boundary (skin effect); (b) transient three-dimensional binding of the decayed wave packet to the boundary by photons carrying more energy than the incident wave packet. These effects are realizable for cold atoms in cavities where excitation decay is nearly exponential but strongly enhanced.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3739-3742
Number of pages4
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume80
Issue number17
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 1998
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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