Abstract
We report the observation of multiple laser thresholds in the many-atom cavity QED microlaser. Traveling-wave coupling and a supersonic atom beam are used to create a well-defined atom-cavity interaction. Multiple thresholds are observed as jumps in photon number due to oscillatory gain. Although the number of intracavity atoms is large, up to N∼ 103, the dynamics of the microlaser agree with a single-atom theory. This agreement is supported by quantum trajectory simulations of a many-atom microlaser and a semiclassical microlaser theory. We discuss the relation of the microlaser with the micromaser and conventional lasers.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 041802 |
Journal | Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics |
Volume | 73 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2006 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics