Asymmetric Superradiant Scattering Patterns from Bose--Einstein Condensates

The asymmetric patterns of superradiance from Bose--Einstein condensates
are studied for the spatially inhomogeneous pump pulse with the semiclassical Maxwell--Schrodinger equations. The coupling dynamics between the optical field and condensate in the strong pulse and a faded wing in the weak coupling regime are discussed, which not only explain the spatial effects in the process of superradiance, but also supply a new method to control its patterns.