Electromagnetically induced moire optical lattices in a coherent atomic gas

Electromagnetically induced optical (or photonic) lattices via atomic coherence in atomic ensembles have recently received great theoretical and experimental interest. We here conceive a way to generate electromagnetically induced moire optical lattices - a twisted periodic pattern when two identical periodic patterns (lattices) are overlapped in a twisted angle (theta) - in a three-level coherent atomic gas working under electromagnetically induced transparency. We show that, changing the twisted angle and relative strength between the two constitutive sublattices, the moire Bloch bands that are extremely flattened can always appear, resembling the typical flat-band and moire physics found in other contexts. Dynamics of light propagation in the induced periodic structures demonstrating the unique linear localization and delocalization properties are also revealed. Our scheme can be implemented in a Rubidium atomic medium, where the predicted moire optical lattices and flattened bands are naturally observable.

Automated summary

Electromagnetically induced moire optical lattices, generated in a three-level coherent atomic gas using electromagnetically induced transparency, have attracted significant interest recently. By changing the twisted angle and relative strength between two constitutive sublattices, extremely flattened moire Bloch bands can always appear, resembling the typical flat-band and moire physics found in other contexts. The dynamics of light propagation in the induced periodic structures demonstrate unique linear localization and delocalization properties. The predicted moire optical lattices and flattened bands can be observed in a Rubidium atomic medium.