Simulating quantum-optical phenomena with optical lattices

In this article we keep digging into the capabilities of optical lattices as simulators, showing how they can also be a powerful tool for simulating phenomena traditionally linked to quantum-optical systems (a study that we began in de Vega et al., (2008)). The basic idea consists of connecting an atomic state trapped in the optical lattice to a non trapped state through a Raman scheme. The coupling between these two types of atoms (trapped and free) turns out to be similar to that describing light-matter interaction within the rotating-wave approximation, the role of matter and photons being played by the trapped and free atoms, respectively.