Self-driven nonlinear dynamics in magneto-optical traps

We present a theoretical model describing recently observed collective effects in large magneto-optically trapped atomic ensembles. Based on a kinetic description, we develop an efficient test particle method, which, in addition to the single-atom light pressure, accounts for other relevant effects such as laser attenuation and forces due to multiply scattered light with position-dependent absorption cross sections. Our calculations confirm the existence of a dynamical instability and provide deeper insights into the observed system dynamics