Self-synchronization and dissipation-induced threshold in collective atomic recoil lasing

The self-synchronization and dissipation-induced threshold behavior of collective atomic recoil (CARL) was investigated as an example of phase transition in glabally coupled oscillator networks. The coupling mechanism was provided by collective atomic recoil which was generated by fundamental interaction between atoms and light. The atomic ensemble underwent phase transition to a state of synchronized atomic motion under the additional friction force. The large number of oscillators ensured the validity of thermodynamic limit.