Eur. Phys. J. D (2012) 66: 292
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2012-30465-9

Regular Article

Optical properties of collective excitations for an atomic chain with vacancies

Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria

^a e-mail: hashem.zoubi@uibk.ac.at

Received: 24 July 2012
Received in final form: 25 September 2012
Published online: 27 November 2012

Abstract

Resonant dipole-dipole interaction modifies the energy and decay rate of electronic excitations for a collection of ultracold atoms. Collective excitations of a finite linear atomic chain can be divided into dark and bright modes. Typically the superradiant mode with maximum effective collective dipole dominates resonant light scattering. The generic case of two chain segments of different length and position exhibits an interaction blockade and spatially structured light emission. Ultimately, an extended system of several interfering segments models a long chain with randomly distributed defects of vacant sites. The corresponding emission pattern provides a sensitive tool to study structural and dynamical properties of the system.