Matter-wave analog of an optical random laser

Abstract

The accumulation of atoms in the lowest energy level of a trap and the subsequent out-coupling of these atoms is a realization of a matter-wave analog of a conventional optical laser. Optical random lasers require materials that provide optical gain but, contrary to conventional lasers, the modes are determined by multiple scattering and not a cavity. We show that a Bose-Einstein condensate can be loaded in a spatially correlated disorder potential prepared in such a way that the Anderson localization phenomenon operates as a band-pass filter. A multiple scattering process selects atoms with certain momenta and determines laser modes which represents a matter-wave analog of an optical random laser.