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arXiv:1310.0087 · Physical Review A

Superradiant control of γ -ray propagation by vibrating nuclear arrays

Xiwen Zhang, Anatoly A. Svidzinsky

Published Sep 30, 2013• 11 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

The collective nature of light interactions with atomic and nuclear ensembles yields the fascinating phenomena of superradiance and radiation trapping. We study the interaction of $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays with a coherently vibrating periodic array of two-level nuclei. Such nuclear motion can be generated, e.g., in ionic crystals illuminated by a strong driving optical laser field. We find that deflection of the incident $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ beam into the Bragg angle can be switched on and off by nuclear vibrations on a superradiant time scale determined by the collective nuclear frequency ${\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{a}$, which is of the order of terahertz. Namely, if the incident $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ wave is detuned from the nuclear transition by frequency $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\gg}{\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{a}$ it passes through the static nuclear array. However, if the nuclei vibrate with frequency $\ensuremath{\Delta}$ then parametric resonance can yield energy transfer into the Bragg deflected beam on the superradiant time scale, which can be used for fast control of $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.88.033854

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The collective nature of light interactions with atomic and nuclear ensembles yields the fascinating phenomena of superradiance and radiation trapping. We study the interaction of \ensuremathγ\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremathγ rays with a coherently vibrating periodic array of two-level nuclei. Such nuclear motion can be generated, e.g., in ionic crystals illuminated by a strong driving optical laser field. We find that deflection of the incident \ensuremathγ\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremathγ beam into the Bragg angle can be switched on and off by nuclear vibrations on a superradiant time scale determined by the collective nuclear frequency \ensuremathΩa{\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{a}\ensuremathΩa​, which is of the order of terahertz. Namely, if the incident \ensuremathγ\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremathγ wave is detuned from the nuclear transition by frequency \ensuremathΔ\ensuremath≫\ensuremathΩa\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\gg}{\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{a}\ensuremathΔ\ensuremath≫\ensuremathΩa​ it passes through the static nuclear array. However, if the nuclei vibrate with frequency \ensuremathΔ\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremathΔ then parametric resonance can yield energy transfer into the Bragg deflected beam on the superradiant time scale, which can be used for fast control of \ensuremathγ\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremathγ rays.
The electromagnetic transitions of Mössbauer nuclei provide ideal two-level systems to study the cooperative effects of X-rays with matter. Recently, we have observed the collective Lamb shift (CLS) in nuclear γ-ray superradiance [Röhlsberger, R.; Schlage, K.; Sahoo, B.; Couet, S.; Rüffer, R. Science 2010, 328, 1248–1251]. An ensemble of resonant 57Fe nuclei was embedded in the center of a planar cavity and was collectively excited by synchrotron radiation into a purely superradiant state. The decay of the superradiant state can be almost two orders of magnitude faster than the single-atom nuclear decay and can be accompanied by a CLS of more than 10 times the natural linewidth. Here we review the basic features of cooperative effects that occur in nuclear γ-ray superradiance in comparison with similar effects observed in the optical regime of the electromagnetic spectrum. We show that nuclear resonant scattering of synchrotron radiation opens new ways for systematic studies of cooperative effects in the interaction of X-rays with matter.
This report results from a contract tasking Moscow State University as follows: Exploration of methods to control the radiative gamma- processes in nuclei is currently one of the most promising investigation directions of the modern Quantum Nucleonics - a new realm of contemporary Physics which spreads the basic conceptual ideas and methods of optical Quantum Electronics of atoms and molecules to the gamma-ray range and atomic nuclei and even anti-particles. One of the most important problems in this field is the generation of coherent gamma-radiation by a Gamma-ray Lasing (GRL) process which makes use of excited nuclei as an amplifying medium. The most likely medium for gamma-ray lasers is an ensemble of metastable nuclear isomers, Direct excitation of these isomeric states by electrons or X-ray photons will also create a deeper understanding of nuclear structure and properties.
We report a method for coherent control of γ-photons, enabling the shaping of γ-ray intensity in nearly arbitrary waveforms. Different intensity waveforms are created by adjusting the motion profile of a resonant absorber (an ensemble of Mössbauer nuclei) and tuning the energy of the incident radiation. A crucial aspect of this method is the use of a low fundamental frequency of vibrations, which broadens the possibilities for γ-ray control. The results of numerical simulations are experimentally validated by generating single and double γ-pulses and inducing short-term absorption. For this, a resonant absorber containing 57Fe nuclei was vibrated with different motion profiles composed of 12 harmonics with a fundamental frequency of 1 MHz. The proposed technique represents an advancement in the manipulation of γ-rays, and potentially x rays, paving the way for the performance of unique types of γ-ray or x-ray quantum experiments and the development of tools such as adjustable table-top γ-pulse sources or γ-ray or x-ray delays and gates. Moreover, inverse application of the method enables investigation of motion at the picometer scale.
This thesis studies superradiance and subradiance in the normal modes of excitation of systems of resonant nuclei. The nuclei are treated as classical electric dipole oscillators interacting through their radiation fields. This coupling radically alters the radiative decay of the system relative to the decay of an isolated nucleus, and leads to both superradiant and subradiant states with strongly enhanced or suppressed radiative decay rates, and with normal mode frequencies which can be strongly shifted from the natural resonance frequency. This issue is of considerable current interest because it is now possible to create spatially coherent single exciton nuclear states by illuminating crystals containing resonant Mossbauer nuclei with synchrotron radiation pulses. The purpose of this thesis is to solve for the radiative eigenmodes in a system of nuclei and to investigate superradiance and subradiance both in the eigenmode solutions and in the synchrotron radiation produced nuclear exciton state.
Coherent control of light and its interactions with matter is a key aspect of quantum optics. Nuclear resonant interactions enable coherent manipulation of photons at X-ray and γ -ray energies. One promising approach to manipulating γ -photons emitted by radioactive sources exploits ultrasonically vibrating nuclear resonant absorbers. However, previous studies have focused on unpolarized γ -radiation interacting with isotropic resonant media without exploiting polarization effects. Here, we demonstrate simultaneous temporal control of the waveform and polarization state of γ -photons by combining ultrasonic vibrations of magnetically ordered resonant absorbers with anisotropy in nuclear resonant scattering. This method allows interlinking phase differences of individual resonant interaction paths with their polarization dependence. A particular consequence is the possibility to form double-pulse γ -radiation sequences with tunable time-dependent polarization states. Using the reported method, coherent control of γ -photons can be expanded to polarization-based experiments and related applications in quantum optics can be further explored using a tabletop γ -optical setup.
Nuclear resonant γ-ray absorption has important practical applications through Mössbauer spectroscopy. At synchrotron-radiation facilities, it is most often used in the time domain, i.e. analysis of the temporal patterns after pulsed excitation. In this context, superradiant speedup and directional re-emission are observed. This text proposes ways to manipulate the superradiant emission in energy/time and momentum/space by introducing controlled dynamic-phase shifts using, for example, static or pulsed magnetic fields. Possible applications are discussed, in particular a solution to the prompt-pulse problem, i.e. the massive overload of detectors by the synchrotron-radiation pulses.