Quantum and nonlinear effects in transmission of light through planar arrays of atoms
j.ruostekoski@lancaster.ac.uk
Lancaster University
We simulate the coupled quantum dynamics of closely-spaced atoms and light by solving the quantum many-body master equation. In the forward scattering of light from planar arrays and uniform slabs of cold atoms we identify quantum many-body effects that are robust to position fluctuations and strong dipole-dipole interactions. This is obtained by comparing the full quantum solution to a semiclassical model that ignores quantum fluctuations.