Self-Organization of Atoms along a Nanophotonic Waveguide

Atoms coupled to nanophotonic interfaces represent an exciting frontier for the investigation of quantum light-matter interactions. While most work has considered the interaction between statically positioned atoms and light, here we demonstrate that a wealth of phenomena can arise from the self-consistent interaction between atomic internal states, optical scattering, and atomic forces. We consider in detail the case of atoms coupled to a one-dimensional nanophotonic waveguide and show that this interplay gives rise to the self-organization of atomic positions along the waveguide, which can be probed through distinct characteristics in the reflection and transmission spectra. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.113606