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Optics

Theses/Dissertations

Nonlinear optics

Old Dominion University

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Forward Light Scattering In An Extended Sample Of Cold Atoms, Stetson Roof Aug 2016

Forward Light Scattering In An Extended Sample Of Cold Atoms, Stetson Roof

Physics Theses & Dissertations

We present results on the forward emitted light from a cold atomic sample of 87Rb. Specifically,we study single-photon superradiance which is characterized by a rapid decay faster than the single atom lifetime with the light preferentially emitted in the forward direction. Additionally, we report measurements on its counterpart, the cooperative Lamb shift. The results are interpreted using microscopic light scattering theory as well as techniques from classical optics. The comparison of the two analytical techniques provides a new perspectiveon what is meant by cooperative and collective scattering effects in cold atomic physics.