Synchronization of a self-sustained cold-atom oscillator

Nonlinear oscillations and synchronization phenomena are ubiquitous in nature. We study the synchronization of self-oscillating magneto-optically trapped cold atoms to a weak external driving. The oscillations arise from a dynamical instability due the competition between the screened magneto-optica...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kwek, Leong Chuan, Heimonen, H., Kaiser, R., Labeyrie, G.
Other Authors: Institute of Advanced Studies
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: 2018
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10356/85184
http://hdl.handle.net/10220/45153
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Institution: Nanyang Technological University
Language: English
Description
Summary:Nonlinear oscillations and synchronization phenomena are ubiquitous in nature. We study the synchronization of self-oscillating magneto-optically trapped cold atoms to a weak external driving. The oscillations arise from a dynamical instability due the competition between the screened magneto-optical trapping force and the interatomic repulsion due to multiple scattering of light. A weak modulation of the trapping force allows the oscillations of the cloud to synchronize to the driving. The synchronization frequency range increases with the forcing amplitude. The corresponding Arnold tongue is experimentally measured and compared to theoretical predictions. Phase locking between the oscillator and drive is also observed.