Bragg Scattering from Atoms in Optical Lattices

Abstract

We observe coherently enhanced reflection (Bragg scattering) of a near resonant laser beam from cesium atoms ordered by a periodic array of optical potential wells known as an optical lattice. The reflected light is enhanced by a factor of $\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{5}$ over scattering from a disordered atomic sample. We measure the magnitude of the reflectivity and its detuning dependence as functions of the density and the degree of localization of the atoms. The change in lattice constant due to the frequency-dependent effective index of refraction seen by the lattice light field is observed.