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Physical Review A

Polarization switching versus optical bistability: Experimental observations for a Jlower=1 to Jupper=0 transition in a Fabry-Perot cavity

Christian G. Parigger, Peter Hannaford, Weston J. Sandle

Published Sep 1, 1986• 16 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Experiments on the steady-state, nonlinear behavior of the $^{7}\mathrm{F}_{1}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}^{7}$${\mathrm{F}}_{0}^{\mathrm{o}}$ 570.68-nm transition of atomic samarium in a laser-driven, near-concentric Fabry-Perot cavity are reported. For zero applied magnetic field, only simple optical bistability, symmetric in both ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{+}$ and ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ transmitted polarizations, is observed for a linearly polarized excitation beam. However, for a magnetic field applied parallel to the propagation direction, polarization-sensitive switching appears, with lowest power threshold near the edge of the Doppler-broadened region. Subsidiary measurements of atomic parameters are also given to enable the transition to be experimentally well characterized.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.34.2058

Related papers

Magnetically induced polarization switching for the F17 −7 F00 570.68-nm transition of Sm i in a Fabry-Perot cavity

Christian G. Parigger, Peter Hannaford, Weston J. Sandle +1 more

Preliminary results of experimental and theoretical behavior of a ${J}_{\mathrm{lower}=1}$ to ${J}_{\mathrm{upper}=0}$ ${(}^{7}$${\mathrm{F}}_{1}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}^{7}$${\mathrm{F}}_{0}^{0}$, 570.68 nm in Sm i) transition in a laser-driven optical cavity are reported. Unlike a J=(1/2) to J=(1/2) transition, polarization asymmetry in the switching does not spontaneously appear in the absence of a magnetic field, owing to the effect of Zeeman coherence in the J=1 level. However, with a longitudinal magnetic field, polarization asymmetry in the switching does develop for symmetric driving; we describe this new effect as magnetically induced polarization switching.

Physical Review A•Jun 1, 1985•15 citations

Optical Bistability Experiments Using Samarium Vapour

Weston J. Sandle, Christian G. Parigger

Experimental investigations of optical bistability (OB) for systems with degenerate lower states have up to now relied principally on atomic sodium [1-4]. The study of the influence of lower level coherence effects in OB [5] is greatly aided by the use of a nonlinear medium having a transition with integral electronic angular momentum character. A suitable choice upon which we report here is the 4f6 6s2 (7F1) to 4f6 6s6p (7Foo) 570.68-nm transition in SmI, driven by linearly polarized laser excitation in a near-concentric Fabry-Perot cavity. Unlike the case of the Na J = 1/2 to J = 1/2 D1 transition, for which polarization asymmetry in switching (PS) develops spontaneously [1-4], for the above transition we find that the symmetry in the polarization is conserved. No polarization differences of σ+ with respect to σ− develop in the output from the optical cavity. This behaviour accords with the theoretical expectation [6] that PS is suppressed by transverse optical pumping.

Topical Meeting on Optical Bistability (OB)•Jan 1, 1985•0 citations

Aspects of optical bistability in atomic sodium

Werner E Schulz

Experiments were performed on a bistable system consisting of a low finesse cavity and sodium atoms as the nonlinear medium. The atoms were excited by a dye laser system tuned to the D lines. Both ring and Fabry-Perot configurations were employed, and steady-state as well as transient behaviour was investigated. Flat mirrors of approximately 93% reflectivity were used in all experiments. With sodium vapour as the medium, experiments were performed in steady state, and a marked difference was observed in the behaviour of the Fabry-Perot cavity as compared to the ring set-up. This discrepancy could be explained when the sodium transition was modelled as a three - level lambda -type system, where the Doppler width is of the same order of magnitude as the ground state splitting. In this case the atoms with a Doppler shift close to half the ground state splitting have a major influence on the macroscopic refractive index. Extensive computer simulations were performed using this three -level model, and good qualitative agreement between experiment and theory was obtained for both types of cavity. A vacuum system containing a multiple atomic beam apparatus was constructed in order to reduce the Doppler width. Both the ring and the Fabry-Perot configuration could be set up inside the vacuum chamber.. The steady-state experiments displayed bistability when the laser intensity, laser frequency or cavity frequency were cycled. At higher atomic densities the system showed instabilities and multiple switching.

•Jan 1, 1985•0 citations

Optical Bistability And Polarization Switching Utilizing Two-Level Atoms With Lower-Level Degeneracy

Weston J. Sandle, Christian G. Parigger, R. J. Ballagh

The physics behind magnetically-induced polarization switching for atoms undergoing a Jlower=1 - Jupper =0 transition in a polarization degenerate cavity is discussed. We present preliminary theoretical results for self-pulsing between a+ and a- modes.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Oct 14, 1986•1 citation

Polarization-induced switching and polarization bistability in nonlinear planar resonators with diffusive nonlinearity

Jan Danckaert, Hugo Thienpont A, Irina P. Veretennicoff

To merge the fields of polarization and nonlinear optics opens wide perspectives. The present work aims at investigating some of them. It is shown, on one hand, that if a nonlinear Fabry- Perot resonator filled with an optically isotropic material is addressed by an obliquely incident beam, the transmitted irradiance can switch from an up to a down state (or the reverse) if its polarization is properly modulated. If on the other hand the nonlinear cavity is filled with a linearly birefringent material, polarization optical bistability can occur, even at normal incidence. This polarization bistability can arise both by modulating the incident irradiance and by modulating the incident polarization. Optical bistability of the transmitted irradiance can also be induced by the modulation of the polarization of the incident beam. All these features provide new tools for parallel digital optical information processing.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Jun 28, 1993•0 citations

Polarization switching with sodium vapour

M. W. Hamilton, Weston J. Sandle

Results are given of an experiment which demonstrates switching of the polarization state of the output of a near-concentric Fabry-Perot containing sodium vapour, excited via the homogeneously broadened Dl transition. An example of the output, for linearly polarized laser input, at 1.5 GHz below line center shows switching with hysteresis at high input power (approximately 400 mW) due to saturation, as well as the switching at lower power (approximately mW) due to optical pumping effects. Purely absorptive polarization switching at approximately 50 mW input power was observed. Polarization switching has been predicted in the context of three state atoms in an optical cavity, and the lower power switchin has been previously observed using the inhomogeneously broadened Dl transition of sodium in a Fabry-Perot with the laser detuned above line center. By using argon buffer gas at up to 100 torr, importance of hyperfine structure and inhomogeneous broadening was reduced so as to make the transition approximate a J + 1/2 to J - 1/2 transition.

•Jan 1, 1984•0 citations
Experiments on the steady-state, nonlinear behavior of the ^{7}\mathrm{F}_{1}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}^{7}$${\mathrm{F}}_{0}^{\mathrm{o}} 570.68-nm transition of atomic samarium in a laser-driven, near-concentric Fabry-Perot cavity are reported. For zero applied magnetic field, only simple optical bistability, symmetric in both \ensuremathσ+{\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{+}\ensuremathσ+ and \ensuremathσ\ensuremath−{\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}\ensuremathσ\ensuremath− transmitted polarizations, is observed for a linearly polarized excitation beam. However, for a magnetic field applied parallel to the propagation direction, polarization-sensitive switching appears, with lowest power threshold near the edge of the Doppler-broadened region. Subsidiary measurements of atomic parameters are also given to enable the transition to be experimentally well characterized.
Preliminary results of experimental and theoretical behavior of a Jlower=1{J}_{\mathrm{lower}=1}Jlower=1​ to Jupper=0{J}_{\mathrm{upper}=0}Jupper=0​ (7{(}^{7}(7F1{\mathrm{F}}_{1}F1​${\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}^{7}$F00{\mathrm{F}}_{0}^{0}F00​, 570.68 nm in Sm i) transition in a laser-driven optical cavity are reported. Unlike a J=(1/2) to J=(1/2) transition, polarization asymmetry in the switching does not spontaneously appear in the absence of a magnetic field, owing to the effect of Zeeman coherence in the J=1 level. However, with a longitudinal magnetic field, polarization asymmetry in the switching does develop for symmetric driving; we describe this new effect as magnetically induced polarization switching.
Experimental investigations of optical bistability (OB) for systems with degenerate lower states have up to now relied principally on atomic sodium [1-4]. The study of the influence of lower level coherence effects in OB [5] is greatly aided by the use of a nonlinear medium having a transition with integral electronic angular momentum character. A suitable choice upon which we report here is the 4f6 6s2 (7F1) to 4f6 6s6p (7Foo) 570.68-nm transition in SmI, driven by linearly polarized laser excitation in a near-concentric Fabry-Perot cavity. Unlike the case of the Na J = 1/2 to J = 1/2 D1 transition, for which polarization asymmetry in switching (PS) develops spontaneously [1-4], for the above transition we find that the symmetry in the polarization is conserved. No polarization differences of σ+ with respect to σ− develop in the output from the optical cavity. This behaviour accords with the theoretical expectation [6] that PS is suppressed by transverse optical pumping.
Experiments were performed on a bistable system consisting of a low finesse cavity and sodium atoms as the nonlinear medium. The atoms were excited by a dye laser system tuned to the D lines. Both ring and Fabry-Perot configurations were employed, and steady-state as well as transient behaviour was investigated. Flat mirrors of approximately 93% reflectivity were used in all experiments. With sodium vapour as the medium, experiments were performed in steady state, and a marked difference was observed in the behaviour of the Fabry-Perot cavity as compared to the ring set-up. This discrepancy could be explained when the sodium transition was modelled as a three - level lambda -type system, where the Doppler width is of the same order of magnitude as the ground state splitting. In this case the atoms with a Doppler shift close to half the ground state splitting have a major influence on the macroscopic refractive index. Extensive computer simulations were performed using this three -level model, and good qualitative agreement between experiment and theory was obtained for both types of cavity. A vacuum system containing a multiple atomic beam apparatus was constructed in order to reduce the Doppler width. Both the ring and the Fabry-Perot configuration could be set up inside the vacuum chamber.. The steady-state experiments displayed bistability when the laser intensity, laser frequency or cavity frequency were cycled. At higher atomic densities the system showed instabilities and multiple switching.
To merge the fields of polarization and nonlinear optics opens wide perspectives. The present work aims at investigating some of them. It is shown, on one hand, that if a nonlinear Fabry- Perot resonator filled with an optically isotropic material is addressed by an obliquely incident beam, the transmitted irradiance can switch from an up to a down state (or the reverse) if its polarization is properly modulated. If on the other hand the nonlinear cavity is filled with a linearly birefringent material, polarization optical bistability can occur, even at normal incidence. This polarization bistability can arise both by modulating the incident irradiance and by modulating the incident polarization. Optical bistability of the transmitted irradiance can also be induced by the modulation of the polarization of the incident beam. All these features provide new tools for parallel digital optical information processing.
Results are given of an experiment which demonstrates switching of the polarization state of the output of a near-concentric Fabry-Perot containing sodium vapour, excited via the homogeneously broadened Dl transition. An example of the output, for linearly polarized laser input, at 1.5 GHz below line center shows switching with hysteresis at high input power (approximately 400 mW) due to saturation, as well as the switching at lower power (approximately mW) due to optical pumping effects. Purely absorptive polarization switching at approximately 50 mW input power was observed. Polarization switching has been predicted in the context of three state atoms in an optical cavity, and the lower power switchin has been previously observed using the inhomogeneously broadened Dl transition of sodium in a Fabry-Perot with the laser detuned above line center. By using argon buffer gas at up to 100 torr, importance of hyperfine structure and inhomogeneous broadening was reduced so as to make the transition approximate a J + 1/2 to J - 1/2 transition.