title: Self-similar modes of coherent diffusion.
abstract: Self-similar solutions of the coherent diffusion equation are derived and measured. The set of real similarity solutions is generalized by the introduction of a nonuniform phase, based on the elegant Gaussian modes of optical diffraction. In a light-storage experiment, the complex solutions are imprinted on a gas of diffusing atoms, and the self-similar evolution of both their amplitude and phase pattern is demonstrated. An algebraic decay depending on the mode order is measured. Notably, as opposed to the regular diffusion spreading, a subset of the solutions exhibits a self-similar contraction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Firstenberg
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: London
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yankelev
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pugatch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shuker
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Davidson