Polaron effect in waveguide quantum optomechanics

Abstract: We investigate the impact of the quantized mechanical motion of optically trapped atoms, arranged in proximity to a one-dimensional waveguide, on the propagation of polariton modes. Our study identifies a regime of resonant phonon-assisted mixing between lower and upper polaritons, resulting in a pronounced polaron effect. This effect is characterized by the formation of new band gaps and the appearance of weakly dispersive states within the original polariton band gap. The polaron spectrum, which can be directly probed via resonant elastic scattering, provides novel opportunities for quantum optical applications. These findings open avenues for enhanced control in state-of-the-art waveguide quantum electrodynamics experiments with cold atoms.