Asymmetric comb waveguide for strong interactions between atoms and light.

Coupling quantum emitters and nanostructures, in particular cold atoms and optical waveguides, has recently raised a large interest due to unprecedented possibilities of engineering light-matter interactions. In this work, we propose a new type of periodic dielectric waveguide that provides strong interactions between atoms and guided photons with an unusual dispersion. We design an asymmetric comb waveguide that supports a slow mode with a quartic (instead of quadratic) dispersion and an electric field that extends far into the air cladding for an optimal interaction with atoms.

Direct Laser Cooling to Bose-Einstein Condensation in a Dipole Trap.

We present a method for producing three-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensates using only laser cooling. The phase transition to condensation is crossed with 2.5×10^{4} ^{87}Rb atoms at a temperature of T_{c}=0.

Creation of a Bose-condensed gas of Rb by laser cooling.

Protocols for attaining quantum degeneracy in atomic gases almost exclusively rely on evaporative cooling, a time-consuming final step associated with substantial atom loss. We demonstrate direct laser cooling of a gas of rubidium-87 (Rb) atoms to quantum degeneracy. The method is fast and induces little atom loss.

Strongly Correlated Growth of Rydberg Aggregates in a Vapor Cell.

The observation of strongly interacting many-body phenomena in atomic gases typically requires ultracold samples. Here we show that the strong interaction potentials between Rydberg atoms enable the observation of many-body effects in an atomic vapor, even at room temperature. We excite Rydberg atoms in cesium vapor and observe in real time an out-of-equilibrium excitation dynamics that is consistent with an aggregation mechanism.