Ultraslow optical modes in Bose-Einstein condensates

Abstract

Light can be slowed down to ultraslow speeds via electromagnetically induced transparency in atomic Bose-Einstein condensates. This is thought to be useful for storage of quantum information for weak probe pulses. We investigate the effects of inhomogeneous density profile of-the condensate on propagation of such ultraslow pulses. We find that spatial density of an atomic condensate leads to a graded refractive index profile, for an off-resonant probe pulse when condensate parameters are suitably chosen. Within the window of negligible absorption, conditions for degenerate multiple waveguide modes are determined. Both analytical and numerical studies are presented to reveal the effects of experimentally controllable parameters, such as temperature and interatomic interaction strength on the number of modes. Group velocity dispersion and modal dispersion are discussed. The effect of waveguide dispersion, in addition to usual material dispersion, on ultraslow pulses is pointed out.