Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:1805.00144 · Physical Review A

Nonlinear quantum optics for spinor slow light

Julius Ruseckas, Viačeslav Kudriašov, Algirdas Mekys, Tomas Andrijauskas, Ite A. Yu, Gediminas Juzeliūnas

Published Jul 27, 2018• 5 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We investigate quantum nonlinear effects at a level of individual quanta in a double-tripod atom-light coupling scheme involving two atomic Rydberg states. In such a scheme the slow light coherently coupled to strongly interacting Rydberg states represents a two-component or spinor light. The scheme provides additional possibilities for the control and manipulation of light quanta. A distinctive feature of the proposed setup is that it combines the spin-orbit coupling for the spinor slow light with an interaction between the photons, enabling generation of the second probe beam even when two-photon detuning is zero. Furthermore, the interaction between the photons can become repulsive if the one-photon detunings have opposite signs. This is different from a single-ladder atom-light coupling scheme in which the interaction between the photons is attractive for both positive and negative detunings as long as the Rabi frequency of the control beam is not too high.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.98.013846

Related papers

Experimental demonstration of spinor slow light

Meng‐Jung Lee, Julius Ruseckas, Chin-Yuan Lee +5 more

Slow light based on the effect of electromagnetically induced transparency is of great interest due to its applications in low-light-level nonlinear optics and quantum information manipulation. The previous experiments all dealt with the single-component slow light. Here, we report the experimental demonstration of two-component or spinor slow light using a double-tripod atom-light coupling scheme. The scheme involves three atomic ground states coupled to two excited states by six light fields. The oscillation due to the interaction between the two components was observed. On the basis of the stored light, our data showed that the double-tripod scheme behaves like the two outcomes of an interferometer enabling precision measurements of frequency detuning. We experimentally demonstrated a possible application of the double-tripod scheme as quantum memory/rotator for the two-colour qubit. Our study also suggests that the spinor slow light is a better method than a widely used scheme in the nonlinear frequency conversion.

arXiv:1404.6616•Nature Communications•Nov 24, 2014•63 citations

Experimental demonstration of spinor slow light

Meng‐Jung Lee, Julius Ruseckas, Chin-Yuan Lee +5 more

Over the last decade there has been a continuing interest in slow and stored light based on the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) effect, because of their potential applications in quantum information manipulation. However, previous experimental works all dealt with the single-component slow light which cannot be employed as a qubit. In this work, we report the first experimental demonstration of two-component or spinor slow light (SSL) using a double tripod (DT) atom-light coupling scheme. The oscillations between the two components, similar to the Rabi oscillation of a two-level system or a qubit, were observed. Single-photon SSL can be considered as two-color qubits. We experimentally demonstrated a possible application of the DT scheme as quantum memory and quantum rotator for the two-color qubits. This work opens up a new direction in the slow light research.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Mar 7, 2016•0 citations

Transfer of orbital angular momentum of light using two-component slow light

Julius Ruseckas, Viačeslav Kudriašov, Ite A. Yu +1 more

We study the manipulation of slow light with an orbital angular momentum propagating in a cloud of cold atoms. Atoms are affected by four co-propagating control laser beams in a double tripod configuration of the atomic energy levels involved, allowing us to minimize the losses at the vortex core of the control beams. In such a situation the atomic medium is transparent for a pair of co-propagating probe fields, leading to the creation of two-component (spinor) slow light. We study the interaction between the probe fields when two control beams carry optical vortices of opposite helicity. As a result, a transfer of the optical vortex takes place from the control to the probe fields without switching off and on the control beams. This feature is missing in a single tripod scheme where the optical vortex can be transferred from the control to the probe field only during either the storage or retrieval of light.

arXiv:1306.1709•Physical Review A•May 28, 2013•87 citations

Photonic-band-gap properties for two-component slow light

Julius Ruseckas, Viačeslav Kudriašov, Gediminas Juzeliūnas +3 more

We consider two-component ``spinor'' slow light in an ensemble of atoms coherently driven by two pairs of counterpropagating control laser fields in a double tripod-type linkage scheme. We derive an equation of motion for the spinor slow light (SSL) representing an effective Dirac equation for a massive particle with the mass determined by the two-photon detuning. By changing the detuning the atomic medium acts as a photonic crystal with a controllable band gap. If the frequency of the incident probe light lies within the band gap, the light experiences reflection from the sample and can tunnel through it. For frequencies outside the band gap, the transmission and reflection probabilities oscillate with the increasing length of the sample. In both cases the reflection takes place into the complementary mode of the probe field. We investigate the influence of the finite excited state lifetime on the transmission and reflection coefficients of the probe light. We discuss possible experimental implementations of the SSL using alkali-metal atoms such as rubidium or sodium.

arXiv:1103.5650•Physical Review A•Jun 13, 2011•19 citations

Spinor Slow-Light and Dirac Particles with Variable Mass

Razmik G. Unanyan, Johannes Otterbach, Michael Fleischhauer +3 more

We consider the interaction of two weak probe fields of light with an atomic ensemble coherently driven by two pairs of standing wave laser fields in a tripod-type linkage scheme. The system is shown to exhibit a Dirac-like spectrum for light-matter quasiparticles with multiple dark states, termed spinor slow-light polaritons. They posses an "effective speed of light" given by the group velocity of slow light, and can be made massive by inducing a small two-photon detuning. Control of the two-photon detuning can be used to locally vary the mass including a sign flip. Particularly, this allows the implementation of the random-mass Dirac model for which localized zero-energy (midgap) states exist with unusual long-range correlations.

arXiv:1005.3429•Physical Review Letters•Oct 20, 2010•37 citations

CLEO®/Europe — IQEC 2013 Observation and measurement of interaction-induced dispersive optical nonlinearities in an ensemble of cold Rydberg atoms

Valentina Parigi, Erwan Bimbard, Jovica Stanojevic +5 more

The realization of nonlinear optical effects at the single photon level would be a significant step forward for quantum information processing and communications. In particular, a strong dispersive and non-dissipative nonlinearity could enable the implementation of a two-photon phase gate. One possible strategy to reach such huge nonlinearities is to convert photons into strongly interacting particles, like collective excitations involving Rydberg atoms. Interactions between Rydbergs in fact lead to a “blockade” phenomenon, where each Rydberg atom blocks the excitation of its neighbors, which can result in strong nonlinearities. Here, we use an ensemble of cold Rydberg atoms inside an optical cavity to create large dispersive nonlinearities on a weak probe beam far detuned from a D2-line transition in87Rb atoms [1]. The used three-level ladder scheme, with a second control field detuned from resonance on the upper transition towards a Rydberg level, is shown in Fig.1a). A simple explanation of the nonlinear effect is the following: if a very weak probe beam is injected into the cavity in the presence of the blue light on the two-photon transition, it experiences the single-atom three-level dispersion described by the real part of the three-level susceptibility χ-3level. This corresponds to a certain shift of the transmitted cavity peak (Fig. 1b)).

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)•May 1, 2013•0 citations
We investigate quantum nonlinear effects at a level of individual quanta in a double-tripod atom-light coupling scheme involving two atomic Rydberg states. In such a scheme the slow light coherently coupled to strongly interacting Rydberg states represents a two-component or spinor light. The scheme provides additional possibilities for the control and manipulation of light quanta. A distinctive feature of the proposed setup is that it combines the spin-orbit coupling for the spinor slow light with an interaction between the photons, enabling generation of the second probe beam even when two-photon detuning is zero. Furthermore, the interaction between the photons can become repulsive if the one-photon detunings have opposite signs. This is different from a single-ladder atom-light coupling scheme in which the interaction between the photons is attractive for both positive and negative detunings as long as the Rabi frequency of the control beam is not too high.
Slow light based on the effect of electromagnetically induced transparency is of great interest due to its applications in low-light-level nonlinear optics and quantum information manipulation. The previous experiments all dealt with the single-component slow light. Here, we report the experimental demonstration of two-component or spinor slow light using a double-tripod atom-light coupling scheme. The scheme involves three atomic ground states coupled to two excited states by six light fields. The oscillation due to the interaction between the two components was observed. On the basis of the stored light, our data showed that the double-tripod scheme behaves like the two outcomes of an interferometer enabling precision measurements of frequency detuning. We experimentally demonstrated a possible application of the double-tripod scheme as quantum memory/rotator for the two-colour qubit. Our study also suggests that the spinor slow light is a better method than a widely used scheme in the nonlinear frequency conversion.
Over the last decade there has been a continuing interest in slow and stored light based on the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) effect, because of their potential applications in quantum information manipulation. However, previous experimental works all dealt with the single-component slow light which cannot be employed as a qubit. In this work, we report the first experimental demonstration of two-component or spinor slow light (SSL) using a double tripod (DT) atom-light coupling scheme. The oscillations between the two components, similar to the Rabi oscillation of a two-level system or a qubit, were observed. Single-photon SSL can be considered as two-color qubits. We experimentally demonstrated a possible application of the DT scheme as quantum memory and quantum rotator for the two-color qubits. This work opens up a new direction in the slow light research.
We study the manipulation of slow light with an orbital angular momentum propagating in a cloud of cold atoms. Atoms are affected by four co-propagating control laser beams in a double tripod configuration of the atomic energy levels involved, allowing us to minimize the losses at the vortex core of the control beams. In such a situation the atomic medium is transparent for a pair of co-propagating probe fields, leading to the creation of two-component (spinor) slow light. We study the interaction between the probe fields when two control beams carry optical vortices of opposite helicity. As a result, a transfer of the optical vortex takes place from the control to the probe fields without switching off and on the control beams. This feature is missing in a single tripod scheme where the optical vortex can be transferred from the control to the probe field only during either the storage or retrieval of light.
We consider two-component ``spinor'' slow light in an ensemble of atoms coherently driven by two pairs of counterpropagating control laser fields in a double tripod-type linkage scheme. We derive an equation of motion for the spinor slow light (SSL) representing an effective Dirac equation for a massive particle with the mass determined by the two-photon detuning. By changing the detuning the atomic medium acts as a photonic crystal with a controllable band gap. If the frequency of the incident probe light lies within the band gap, the light experiences reflection from the sample and can tunnel through it. For frequencies outside the band gap, the transmission and reflection probabilities oscillate with the increasing length of the sample. In both cases the reflection takes place into the complementary mode of the probe field. We investigate the influence of the finite excited state lifetime on the transmission and reflection coefficients of the probe light. We discuss possible experimental implementations of the SSL using alkali-metal atoms such as rubidium or sodium.
We consider the interaction of two weak probe fields of light with an atomic ensemble coherently driven by two pairs of standing wave laser fields in a tripod-type linkage scheme. The system is shown to exhibit a Dirac-like spectrum for light-matter quasiparticles with multiple dark states, termed spinor slow-light polaritons. They posses an "effective speed of light" given by the group velocity of slow light, and can be made massive by inducing a small two-photon detuning. Control of the two-photon detuning can be used to locally vary the mass including a sign flip. Particularly, this allows the implementation of the random-mass Dirac model for which localized zero-energy (midgap) states exist with unusual long-range correlations.
The realization of nonlinear optical effects at the single photon level would be a significant step forward for quantum information processing and communications. In particular, a strong dispersive and non-dissipative nonlinearity could enable the implementation of a two-photon phase gate. One possible strategy to reach such huge nonlinearities is to convert photons into strongly interacting particles, like collective excitations involving Rydberg atoms. Interactions between Rydbergs in fact lead to a “blockade” phenomenon, where each Rydberg atom blocks the excitation of its neighbors, which can result in strong nonlinearities. Here, we use an ensemble of cold Rydberg atoms inside an optical cavity to create large dispersive nonlinearities on a weak probe beam far detuned from a D2-line transition in87Rb atoms [1]. The used three-level ladder scheme, with a second control field detuned from resonance on the upper transition towards a Rydberg level, is shown in Fig.1a). A simple explanation of the nonlinear effect is the following: if a very weak probe beam is injected into the cavity in the presence of the blue light on the two-photon transition, it experiences the single-atom three-level dispersion described by the real part of the three-level susceptibility χ-3level. This corresponds to a certain shift of the transmitted cavity peak (Fig. 1b)).