Reply to 'Comment on 'Coupled dynamics of atoms and radiation-pressure-driven interferometers' and 'Superstrong coupling regime of cavity quantum electrodynamics''

Journal Article · Thu Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 2007 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.76.057802· OSTI ID:21028124

Meiser, D; Meystre, P ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, University of Arizona, 1118 E. 4th Street, Tucson, Arizona 85721 (United States)

In their Comment, Asboth and Domokos question the consistency of two approximations introduced in two recent articles [D. Meiser and P. Meystre, Phys. Rev. A 73, 033417 (2006); 74, 065801 (2006)]. They show that the minimization of the atomic dipole potential does not in general give rise to a regular lattice of ultracold atoms and that the steady-state positions of atoms in a cavity are not normally characterized by a minimum of the dipole potential. Instead, the steady-state positions correspond to a vanishing force on each individual atom, the relevant force being proportional to the derivative of the optical field mode function. We agree with Asboth and Domokos that the atomic lattice should be irregular. Using a microscopic model we show however that in the regime considered in our works and also in the preceding Comment the concept of force is generally not well defined, and a semiclassical theory may be inadequate for the description of the atomic motion.

• OSTI ID: 21028124
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Journal Name: Physical Review. A Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 76; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ATOMS
DIPOLES
INTERFEROMETERS
RADIATION PRESSURE
SEMICLASSICAL APPROXIMATION
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS