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Nature Communications

Unraveling quantum pathways using optical 3D Fourier-transform spectroscopy

Hebin Li, Alan D. Bristow, Mark E. Siemens, Galan Moody, Steven T. Cundiff

Published Jan 22, 2013• 108 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Predicting and controlling quantum mechanical phenomena require knowledge of the system Hamiltonian. A detailed understanding of the quantum pathways used to construct the Hamiltonian is essential for deterministic control and improved performance of coherent control schemes. In complex systems, parameters characterizing the pathways, especially those associated with inter-particle interactions and coupling to the environment, can only be identified experimentally. Quantitative insight can be obtained provided the quantum pathways are isolated and independently analysed. Here we demonstrate this possibility in an atomic vapour using optical three-dimensional Fourier-transform spectroscopy. By unfolding the system's nonlinear response onto three frequency dimensions, three-dimensional spectra unambiguously reveal transition energies, relaxation rates and dipole moments of each pathway. The results demonstrate the unique capacity of this technique as a powerful tool for resolving the complex nature of quantum systems. This experiment is a critical step in the pursuit of complete experimental characterization of a system's Hamiltonian.

DOI
10.1038/ncomms2405

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Predicting and controlling quantum mechanical phenomena require knowledge of the system Hamiltonian. A detailed understanding of the quantum pathways used to construct the Hamiltonian is essential for deterministic control and improved performance of coherent control schemes. In complex systems, parameters characterizing the pathways, especially those associated with inter-particle interactions and coupling to the environment, can only be identified experimentally. Quantitative insight can be obtained provided the quantum pathways are isolated and independently analysed. Here we demonstrate this possibility in an atomic vapour using optical three-dimensional Fourier-transform spectroscopy. By unfolding the system's nonlinear response onto three frequency dimensions, three-dimensional spectra unambiguously reveal transition energies, relaxation rates and dipole moments of each pathway. The results demonstrate the unique capacity of this technique as a powerful tool for resolving the complex nature of quantum systems. This experiment is a critical step in the pursuit of complete experimental characterization of a system's Hamiltonian.
Optical multidimensional coherent spectroscopy is a powerful tool for studying structure and dynamics in complex systems, such as semiconductors. In optical two-dimensional coherent spectroscopy (2DCS), where the spectrum is presented in a two-dimensional (2D) plane with two frequency axes, an important advantage is the ability to isolate quantum pathways by unfolding a one-dimensional spectrum onto a 2D plane. For many systems, however, the quantum pathways are only partially separated in a 2D spectrum. In order to completely isolate the quantum pathways, we extend 2DCS into a third dimension to generate three-dimensional (3D) spectra in which the spectrum is further unfolded. A 3D spectrum provides complete and well-isolated information of the third-order optical response of the system. The information can be used to fully characterize the quantum pathways and to determine the system’s Hamiltonian. Quantitative knowledge of the Hamiltonian enables prediction and control of quantum processes. For instance, such information is essential for deterministic control and improved performance of coherent control schemes.
Abstract Three-dimensional coherent spectroscopy techniques and experiments are presented in this chapter. The chapter begins with a discussion of different implementations of three-dimensional spectroscopy. The technique can be used to unravel contributions from different quantum pathways, providing a clear picture of the nonlinear response of complex systems. Application of the technique is discussed for three specific systems, including atomic vapors, semiconductor quantum wells, and light-harvesting complexes.
As an extension to powerful two-dimensional coherent spectroscopy, optical three-dimensional (3D) coherent spectroscopy has been experimentally implemented and found beneficial in studying various systems in physics and chemistry. A critical challenge is how to interpret 3D spectra and extract useful quantitative information, given the richness and complexity of 3D data. Here, we demonstrate how the information of a system's optical response is manifested in 3D spectra by theoretical simulations of a few representative examples including a homogeneous three-level V system, an inhomogeneous three-level V system, and an inhomogeneous three-level ladder system. These examples show that important parameters of the system can be extracted from the spectral pattern, peak positions, amplitudes, and line shapes. The method developed here can be used to analyze 3D spectra of more sophisticated systems which might be a generalization or combination of the three examples, contributing to develop a general approach for the interpretation of 3D spectra.
We demonstrate three-dimensional (3D) electronic Fourier transform spectroscopy of GaAs quantum wells using four fully phase-coherent, noncollinear optical fields. Since the full complex signal field is measured as a function of all three time intervals, nearly every peak in the resulting 3D spectral solid arises from a distinguishable sequence of transitions represented by a single Feynman pathway. We use the 3D spectral peaks to separate two pathways involving weakly bound mixed biexcitons generated in different time orders. In the process, we reveal a peak that was previously obscured by a correlated but unbound exciton pair coherence. We also demonstrate a calibration procedure for the carrier frequency which yields biexciton binding energy values with high accuracy.
Electronic structure and dynamics are captured by optical 2D-Fourier-transform (2DFT) spectroscopy, which tracks the phase of the nonlinear signal during two time delays of a multi-pulse excitation sequence. These Fourier-transformed spectra separate and isolate overlapping and competing contributions to the coherent response. We have developed an ultra-stable platform consisting of nested interferometers with active phase control, allowing for exploration of single- and two-quantum coherences. Phase-resolved spectra are retrieved by all-optical determination of experimental phase ambiguities. GaAs quantum wells show suppression of many-body interactions in cross-linear polarized 2DFT spectra and many-body two-quantum coherences. Potassium vapor also shows unexpected two-quantum coherences.