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Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference

Spontaneous parametric oscillation based on atomic coherence

Mikhail D. Lukin, Alexander S. Zibrov, Marlan O. Scully, Andrey B. Matsko, Michael Fleischhauer, Vladimir L Velichansky, Leo W. Hollberg, Philip Hemmer

Published Jan 20, 2003• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Summary form only given. Theoretical and experimental work of past few years on atomic coherence and interference has demonstrated a potential to improve significantly the existing nonlinear optical techniques. In this contribution we present theoretical and experimental results demonstrating the possibility of efficient parametric oscillation in Raman-like double-/spl Delta/ systems. We discuss the possible applications of this process for quantum noise suppression and nonlinear mixing at a very low (few photon) power level.

DOI
10.1109/qels.1999.807644

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Summary form only given. Theoretical and experimental work of past few years on atomic coherence and interference has demonstrated a potential to improve significantly the existing nonlinear optical techniques. In this contribution we present theoretical and experimental results demonstrating the possibility of efficient parametric oscillation in Raman-like double-/spl Delta/ systems. We discuss the possible applications of this process for quantum noise suppression and nonlinear mixing at a very low (few photon) power level.
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By implementing a parametric down-conversion process with a strong signal field injection, we demonstrate that frequency down-conversion from pump photons to idler photons can be a coherent process. Contrary to a common misconception, we show that the process can be free of quantum noise. With an interference experiment, we demonstrate that coherence is preserved in the conversion process. This technique could lead to a high-fidelity quantum state transfer from a high-frequency photon to a low-frequency photon and connect a missing link in quantum networks. Coherent and efficient nonlinear interaction and frequency conversion are of great interest in many areas of quantum optics. Traditionally, the low efficiency of Raman scattering is improved by a high-finesse optical resonator or stimulated Raman conversion. It was recently found that the atomic spin wave initially built through electromagnetically induced transparency or a weak Raman process can actively enhance the Raman frequency conversion. An experimental demonstration of an efficient Raman conversion scheme with coherent feedback of both pump and Stokes fields is presented. The temporal profile of the generated Raman pulse shows that the coherence time of the atomic spin wave is $\sim$1.8 ms. A laser-like power threshold is observed and its low threshold is attributed to the long coherence time of the atomic spin wave. The mechanism of the conversion enhancement process is discussed and the conversion efficiency of a single pass of the beams is compared with that of double passes. Finally, a beat signal is observed between the two Stokes fields and its Fourier transform shows that the frequency difference is caused by the AC Stark effect. Precision phase measurement is traditionally restricted by the standard quantum limit. However, this limit is not as fundamental as the Heisenberg limit and can be circumvented by use of nonclassical quantum states and structure modification of the interferometers. Several examples of nonlinear interferometers are proposed and implemented. The wave propagation equations for the nonlinear interferometers are solved. The interference fringes are measured and compared with that of linear interferometers. The first nonlinear interferometer presented is based on second harmonic generation and degenerate parametric down-conversion. The second nonlinear interferometer is composed of two parametric amplifiers. The idea of nonlinear beam splitters is introduced as an analogy to traditional beam splitters. We show that a nonlinear interferometer can be built alternatively by using only one parametric amplifier. Type II phase-matched crystals can be used to increase the amplification factor. An interferometer based on a Raman amplifier is analyzed for its application to sensitive magnetic field measurement.
In this thesis, quantum coherent control of dynamic properties of double-dark-resonance atomic systems is pursued in detail. First we show our scheme for creating atomic coherent superposition states via the technique of stimulated Raman adiabatic passage in a Lambda-type four-level system. With the application of a control field, it is found that the presence of double dark states leads to two arbitrary coherent superposition states with equal amplitude but inverse relative phases, even though the condition of multiphoton resonance is not met. The suitable manipulation of the control field and detunings enables the proposed scheme to create any coherent superposition states one desired. Then, in the above mentioned double-dark-resonant system, a scheme for giant enhancement of the Kerr nonlinearity is put forward. Compared with that generated in a single-dark-resonance system, the Kerr nonlinearity can be enhanced by several orders of magnitude with vanishing linear absorption. We attribute this dramatic enhancement to the interaction of dark resonances. As another possible means for enhancement of Kerr nonlinearity, spontaneously generated coherence is proposed. Meanwhile, a theoretical investigation is carried out in a five-level tripod system for obtaining a high efficiency double-channel four-wave-mixing process. By manipulating the intensity of the two coupling fields, the conversion efficiency of four-wave-mixing can be controlled.
Summary form only given. The study on the interaction between electromagnetic fields and multi-level atoms or molecules has discovered many interesting effects including electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) enhanced dispersion with reduced absorption, and lasing without inversion. Recent interests include ultraslow group velocity of light, and superluminal light propagation. Atomic coherence created between different atomic levels plays an essential rule in these experiments. On the other hand, quantum features in the interaction between electromagnetic fields and three-level systems based on atomic coherence have attracted extensive theoretical interests. These include generation of amplitude-squeezed and quantum noise-correlated states of light with EIT, entanglement of atomic states with light fields, and quantum memory for light. According to these theoretical works, manipulation of quantum states of either light fields or atoms via atomic coherence is possible. We study quantum state manipulation of light via coherently driven Raman coherence in a /spl Lambda/-type three-level system of rubidium vapor under far off one-photon resonance condition both theoretically and experimentally.
Summary form only given. Nonlinear optical properties of an atomic medium can be modified by coherence and quantum interference that utilizes electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). Because of the vanishing linear absorption and large enhancement of nonlinearities in an EIT medium, nonlinear optics may be studied at low light levels. We report studies of light absorption and parametric amplification based on the EIT enhanced third-order nonlinearity in a four-level atomic system. We have observed the enhanced nonlinear absorption when two coupling lasers and one probe laser are present. We are in the process of preparing the experiments for the double EIT demonstration and observation of the efficient parametric amplification in the four-level system. Because the experimental system is essentially free of Doppler broadening, quantitative comparisons between the experimental measurements and the theoretical calculations can readily be achieved.
It is well known that the optical properties of multi-level atomic and molecular system can be controlled and manipulated efficiently using quantum coherence and interference, which has led to many new effects in quantum optics for e.g. lasing action without population inversion, ultraslow light, high resolution nonlinear spectroscopy etc. Recent experimental and theoretical studies have also provided support for the hypothesis that biological systems uses quantum coherence. Nearly perfect excitation energy transfer in photosynthesis is an excellent example of this.\n\nIn this dissertation we studied quantum coherence and interference effects in the transient and the continuous-wave regimes. This study led to (i) the first experimental demonstration of carrier-envelope phase effects on bound-bound atomic excitation in multi-cycle regime (~15 cycles), (ii) a unique possibility for standoff detection of trace gases using their rotational and vibrational spectroscopic signals and from herein called Coherent Raman Umklappscattering, (iii) several possibilities for frequency up-conversion and generation of short-wavelength radiation using quantum coherence (iv) the measurement of spontaneous emission noise intensity in Yoked-superfluorescence scheme.\n\nApplications of the obtained results are development of XUV (X-Ray) lasers, con- trolled superfluorescent (superradiant) emission, carrier-envelope phase effects, coherent Raman scattering in the backward direction, enhancement of efficiency for generating radiation in XUV and X-Ray regime using quantum coherence with and without population inversion and to extend XUV and X-Ray lasing to ~4.023 nm in Helium-like carbon.