Physicists at BGU have discovered the existence of magic frequencies at which the interaction between atoms and a laser beam of light is very unique. The team, headed by Prof. Ron Folman (pictured below) and a part of the atom chip group, found that at these frequencies, the strength with which the atoms react to the impinging light beam is not dependent on parameters which are known to affect this process, such as the quantum state of the electrons in the atom, the angle of the impinging light relative to an external magnetic field (which fixes a quantum axis in space), or the polarization of the light.
The team demonstrated this puzzling effect experimentally on atoms in gas form. The team has also managed to theoretically explain the effect and to show that it is inherently related to the mathematics of groups (group theory) which stands at the base of atomic physics. The paper describing the findings has recently been accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters and in addition was chosen by the journal editors to be marked as an “Editors’ suggestion”.
