Mainz 2026 – scientific programme
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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik
Q 33: Cavity QED, QED, and Spin-Boson Systems I
Q 33.4: Talk
Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 15:15–15:30, P 4
Evidence for Mollow-type lasing from Yb atoms in a high-finesse cavity — •Saran Shaju1, Dmitriy Sholokhov1, Ke Li1, Jerome Bach1, Simon B. Jäger2, and Jürgen Eschner1 — 1Universität des Saarlandes, Experimentalphysik, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany — 2Physikalisches Institut, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany
We experimentally investigate the characteristics of light exiting a high-finesse cavity as a result of its strong interaction with driven 174Yb atoms. The cavity interacts with the 182 kHz narrow 1S0−3P1 inter-combination line, which is also used for pumping, trapping, and cooling of the atoms in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) configuration. The resulting light-matter interface formed by the cold and dense atomic ensemble and the optical cavity is in the strong collective coupling regime of Cavity QED [1]. We observe continuous light emission reminiscent of lasing with a frequency that is shifted from the bare atomic, cavity, and driving frequencies by several orders of the natural linewidth. Furthermore, we observe that this shift is atom number dependent which we attribute to the collectively enhanced light-matter coupling. This phenomenon is investigated through the measurement of cavity output power and the frequency of the emitted light using heterodyne detection. The experimental observations are supported by extensive mean-field simulations that suggest a possible lasing process based on Mollow gain. Our work aims at the understanding and realization of novel light sources that emerge and rely on strong light-matter coupling.
[1] S. Shaju et al., Phys. Rev. A 112, 013705 (2025).
Keywords: Cold Yb atoms; Cold atom lasing; Cavity QED; Magneto optical trap