Coherent backscattering of light from ultracold and optically dense atomic ensembles

We review experimental and theoretical studies of coherent backscattering of near resonant radiation from an ultracold atomic gas in the weak localization regime. Recent accomplishments in high resolution spectroscopy of atomic ensembles based on the coherent backscattering process are discussed. We also propose several new experimental schemes for time-dependent spectroscopy as applied to multiple scattering in the regime of weak localization.