Cooperative light propagation and spectroscopy with cold atoms

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Traditional analysis of light propagation in a medium is based on more than a century-old theories of electrodynamics of a continuous polarizable medium and its consequences such as standard optics. In cold and dense atomic gases such theories can qualitatively fail. This is because light mediates strong interactions between the atoms that establish correlations between the positions of individual atoms in the cloud. In this project we theoretically study light propagation in cold and dense atomic ensembles. The work will be done in a close collaboration with experimental groups who trap cold and dense atomic gases in laboratories. The goal is to utilize the strong light-mediated interactions in the design of better atomic systems for high-precision measurements. Improved detection techniques could, for instance, lead to more accurate time measurements, better satellite navigation and better lasers.