Phase diagram of spatiotemporal instabilities in a large magneto-optical trap

Large clouds of cold atoms prepared in amagneto-optical trap are known to present spatiotemporal instabilities when the frequency of the trapping lasers is brought close to the atomic resonance. This system bears similarities with trapped plasmas where the role of the Coulomb interaction is played by the exchange of scattered photons, and astrophysical objects, such as stars whose size is dependent on radiative forces. We present in this paper a study of the phase space of such instabilities and reveal different dynamical regimes. Three-dimensional simulations of the highly nonlinear atomic dynamics permit a detailed analysis of the experimental observations.

Automated summary

This study analyzed the spatiotemporal instabilities of large clouds of cold atoms in a magneto-optical trap through three-dimensional simulations. The research revealed different dynamical regimes in the phase space of the instabilities, providing a detailed analysis of the experimental observations.