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arXiv:1205.2567 · Journal of Modern Optics

Controllable steep dispersion with gain in a four-levelN-scheme with four-wave mixing

Nathaniel B. Phillips, Irina V. Novikova, Eugeniy E. Mikhailov, Dmitry Budker, Simon Rochester

Published Oct 26, 2012• 18 citations
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Abstract

We present a theoretical analysis of the propagation of light pulses through a medium of four-level atoms, with two strong pump fields and a weak probe field in an N-scheme arrangement. We show that four-wave mixing has a profound effect on the probe-field group velocity and absorption, allowing the probe-field propagation to be tuned from superluminal to slow-light regimes with amplification.

DOI
10.1080/09500340.2012.733433

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Physica Scripta•Apr 1, 2014•1 citation
We present a theoretical analysis of the propagation of light pulses through a medium of four-level atoms, with two strong pump fields and a weak probe field in an N-scheme arrangement. We show that four-wave mixing has a profound effect on the probe-field group velocity and absorption, allowing the probe-field propagation to be tuned from superluminal to slow-light regimes with amplification.
We investigate the propagation of a weak probe laser field in a medium of warm Rb atoms, controlled with two strong resonant pump fields tuned to the D1 and D2 optical transitions to form an N-scheme arrangement. We have shown theoretically that four-wave mixing has a profound effect on the probe-field group velocity and absorption, allowing the probe-field propagation to be continuously tuned from superluminal to slow-light regimes with amplification. We have also identified the experimental conditions for observation of such tunable slow-to-fast light regime (continuously through the point of zero group index) with positive probe-field gain, and demonstrated that the spectral range corresponding to the zero group index can be tuned by controlling the power of one of the pump laser.
Under weak probe field, rotating wave and electric dipole approximations, we have derived analytic expressions for absorption and dispersion coefficients, group index and group velocity in a four-level cascade atomic medium interacting with the probe and pump laser fields. The model is applied to 85Rb atomic system to study the control of the fast and slow light propagation of the probe beam according to the intensity and frequency of the pump laser beam. With this excitation model, we find two transparent domains and thus the light group velocity is also controlled at these two frequency domains. In particular, the amplitude and the sign of the group index are easily changed by adjusting the intensity or frequency of the pump laser. That is, the probe beam propagation can be changed between fast and slow light modes by adjusting the intensity or frequency of the pump laser. Our analytical results can be useful for related experimental studies.
We investigate dispersion and absorption properties of a weak probe field in a four level atomic system through interacting dark resonances. We show that two narrow peaks appears in the optical spectra due to the presence of interacting dark resonances. This two narrow peaks leads to the superluminal light propagation with strong absorption. However, if a weak incoherent pump field is exerted to the probe transition, then the peaks structures can be changed such that two absorption peaks transformed to two gain deeps. We Show that both subluminal and superluminal light propagation occur in this system, where controlled by the incoherent pumping strength.
A four-level atomic system interacting with two strong drive fields and a weak probe field has been studied. We demonstrate that the group velocity of probe field can be controlled to switch from subluminal to superluminal or even negative values around the probe resonance without any significant absorption. The basic idea is to create a gain with slow light on the probe beam resonance with one drive field while the other drive creates a dip in the gain profile of probe leading to superluminal and negative group velocities. A simple switching from slow light to negative group velocity light can be obtained by changing the relative intensities of drive fields. We also describe a control to tune the position of slow light frequency continuously simply by adjusting the relative intensities of both the driving fields.
We analyse the group velocity of a laser pulse in an optically dressed atomic system. A Λ system with an additional close upper level and an incoherent pump is specially investigated. The group velocity of a pulse is strongly dependent on the optical properties of the system which can be modified by changing the amplitude or detuning of a strong coupling field or of an incoherent pump between the two lower levels of the system. Depending on the parameters, the medium may have alternatively absorptive or gain properties and the dispersion can be changed from anomalous into a normal one. The ranges of parameters are especially investigated in which absorption (gain) is not too strong, with dispersion being not too steep. The group velocity of a pulse propagating through a sample with such optical properties can be switched from the subinto superluminal regime. The dynamics of propagation in the case of negative group velocities of a small absolute value is especially interesting. In such a regime the peak of the transmitted pulse exits the sample before the peak of the incoming pulse reaches the medium. The transmitted pulse splits into two pulses - one of them propagates forward behind the medium and the other propagates backward and is cancelled at the entrance of the sample by the incoming pulse. Ranges of parameters are seeked in which the shape of the pulse is changed and the group velocity as a single parameter is not sufficient to describe the pulse propagation.
We analyse the propagation of a probe laser pulse though a medium of atoms in the double Λ configuration with two closely spaced upper levels. The medium is irradiated with a strong coherent field and is additionally incoherently pumped. Depending on the parameters of the system the dispersion of the medium may change alternatively from normal to anomalous with absorption varying from positive to negative (gain). The incoherent optical pump was found to be the switch between the sub- and the superluminal regime. A laser field propagating through such an optical system can experience alternatively the negative or positive group velocity. The dynamics of propagation in the case of positive but larger than c group velocities is investigated in particular. In this paper we show how the description in terms of the group velocity breaks down in the superluminal regime.