title: Quantum threshold for optomechanical self-structuring in a Bose-Einstein condensate.
abstract: Theoretical analysis of the optomechanics of degenerate bosonic atoms with a single feedback mirror shows that self-structuring occurs only above an input threshold that is quantum mechanical in origin. This threshold also implies a lower limit to the size (period) of patterns that can be produced in a condensate for a given pump intensity. These thresholds are interpreted as due to the quantum rigidity of Bose-Einstein condensates, which has no classical counterpart. Above the threshold, the condensate self-organizes into an ordered supersolid state with a spatial period self-selected by optical diffraction.
authors.affiliation: SUPA and Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0NG, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: G R M
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Robb
authors.affiliation: SUPA and Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0NG, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tesio
authors.affiliation: SUPA and Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0NG, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: G-L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Oppo
authors.affiliation: SUPA and Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0NG, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Firth
authors.affiliation: SUPA and Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0NG, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ackemann
authors.affiliation: INFN-LNF, Via Enrico Fermi, 40-00044 Frascati, Rome, Italy.|SUPA and Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0NG, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bonifacio