Imaging population distribution between two coupled atomic Bose-Einstein condensates by using short laser pulses

In this work we investigate scattering of ultrashort light pulses from two coupled neutral atomic Bose-Einstein condensates corresponding to two different ground hyperfine sublevels. Two counterpropagating σ₊ and σ_- light waves are employed to excite the atomic condensates. We find that the spectrum of scattered light is determined by the initial preparation of the atomic condensate. The spectrum is found to be a mirror image of the population distribution. The scattered light probes the population distribution between the two condensates. In particular, we find that, when the population is equally distributed between the two ground states, the quantum fluctuations in the spectrum are suppressed due to destructive quantum interference.