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

Journal of the Optical Society of America B

Directional optical switch using interacting dark states

Andal Narayanan, Preethi Thekkile Madathil, Manukumara Manjappa

Published Aug 12, 2010• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We experimentally observe a non-linear absorption resonance in one of the two probe beams of a double Λ system which is interacting with three optical beams. This probe beam counterpropagates to the other two beams, both of which are co-propagating. The absorption resonance in this probe beam arises due to interaction between the dark states of the double Λ created by the co-propagating beams. The double Λ configuration of levels is in the D2 hyperfine manifold of 87Rb atoms, and the interaction is studied at room temperature. The non-linear absorption resonance is shown to be a three-photon process arising whenever the two co-propagating beams satisfy the two-photon Raman condition, necessary for electromagnetically induced transparency. Through a dressed state analysis, we show that the absorption feature is a result of interference between the absorption pathways to the excited states, from the ground states of the double Λ. The non-linear nature of the probe beam absorption enables it to perform like a directional optical switch. This absorption switch operates conditioned on non-absorption of a single photon of the same frequency due to a coherent process, in a beam traveling in the opposite direction.

DOI
10.1364/josab.27.001778

Related papers

Coherent pump–probe spectroscopy of a Λ system with a close lying excited level

Niharika Singh, Ayan Ray, Richard D’Souza +2 more

We investigate coherent pump–probe spectroscopy of a medium of atoms in Λ configuration with a closely placed adjacent excited level. The presence of the additional level results in two simultaneous Λ resonances excited by the same pair of pump and probe fields. A master equation framework is used to discuss the probe absorption spectrum and dispersion in the absence/presence of inhomogeneous broadening, and the results are illustrated by using a model four-level system in the D2 transition of 85Rb. The system is observed to exhibit additional interference effects arising from two competing Λ resonances. These effects manifest in terms of linewidths of the triplet dressed state spectrum and suppression of the subnatural peak for the stationary atoms. The effect on electromagnetically induced transparency is discussed in the light of its shape, position and linewidth. The discussion is further augmented by the study of a six-level model as applicable to the D2 transition of 85Rb. The analysis presented here provides a realistic theoretical description of the pump–probe spectroscopy of hyperfine transitions of alkali atoms.

Physica Scripta•Nov 25, 2013•4 citations

Quantum switching based on the dark resonance

Byoung Seung HAM

Summary form only given. In a three-level system, two resonant optical fields can excite spin coherence on the ground states via two-photon resonance. One of the two-superposition states created by the atom-field interactions is decoupled from the excited state. Thus, the population can be trapped in that state showing non-absorption resonance. The essential feature of this decoupled state is dark resonance. Therefore, the existence of the dark resonance is a basis of non-absorption resonance, coherent population trapping, and electromagnetically induced transparency. In a four-level system, however, the two-laser induced spin coherence can be broken when a third laser is applied. At the same time, new coherence between the third laser and one of the pre-existed lasers is created. This phenomenon is useful for optical switching owing to annihilation and creation of the dark resonance in the four-level system. It is noted that the switching time depends on the dark resonance build-up time, which is inversely proportional to the applied Rabi frequency. Numerical simulations are shown for potentially ultrahigh-speed optical switches. Each diffracted four-wave mixing signal is proportional to the spin coherence strength. For a preliminary experiment, a spectral hole-burning crystal is used. The intensity of the diffracted signals is reversed at line center. This coherence switching effect is based on the dark resonance interactions.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Aug 29, 2005•0 citations

Threshold nonlinear absorption in Zeeman transitions

Andal Narayanan, Abheera Hazra, S. N. Sandhya

We experimentally study the absorption spectroscopy from a collection of gaseous 87Rb atoms at room temperature irradiated with three fields. Two of these fields are in a pump–probe saturation absorption configuration. The third field co-propagates with the pump field. The three fields address Zeeman degenerate transitions between hyperfine levels 5S1/2, F = 1 and 5P3/2, F = 0, F = 1 around the D2 line. We find a sub-natural absorption resonance in the counter-propagating probe field for equal detunings of all three fields. This absorption arises in conjunction with the appearance of increased transmission due to electro-magnetically induced transparency in the co-propagating fields. The novel feature of this absorption is its onset only for the blue of 5P3/2, F = 0, as the laser frequency is scanned through the excited states 5P3/2, F = 0, F = 1 and F = 2. The absorption rapidly rises to near maximum values within a narrow band of frequency near 5P3/2, F = 0. Our experimental results are compared with a dressed atom model. We find the threshold absorption to be a result of coherent interaction between the dressed states of our system.

Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics•Oct 12, 2010•0 citations

Double Resonance of Electromagnetically Induced Transparency of Rydberg Atom in Counter-Propagating Configuration

Chao Li, Ma Guo, Mingwei Lei +1 more

The double resonance phenomenon of EIT is studied through the ladder three-level Rydberg system. A probe laser with the wavelength λp=852.35 nm is used to coupling the ground state 6S1/2 to the middle state 6P3/2, and a coupling laser with the wavelength λc=509.08 nm is implemented to couple the state 6P3/2 to the Rydberg state 62D5/2. A special optical scheme is designed, in which the co-propagating and counter-propagating configurations are both used. As a result, the double resonance of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) with the Rydberg atom is observed. By comparing the distance between the double peaks, it is found that the double resonance phenomenon comes from the Doppler effect, and the distance between the two resonance peaks in the absorption spectrum is related to the detuning of the resonant lasers.

Electronics•Nov 8, 2024•4 citations

Double-control quantum interferences in a four-level atomic system

Jian Qi Shen, Pu Zhang

A new scheme is suggested to manipulate the probe transitions (and hence the optical properties of atomic vapors) via double-control destructive and constructive quantum interferences. The influence of phase coherence between the two control transitions on the probe transition is also studied. The most remarkable feature of the present scheme is that the optical properties (absorption, transparency and dispersion) of an atomic system can be manipulated using this double-control multi-pathway interferences (multiple routes to excitation). It is also shown that a four-level system will exhibit a two-level resonant absorption because the two control levels (driven by the two control fields) form a dark state (and hence a destructive quantum interference occurs between the two control transitions). However, the present four-level system will exhibit electromagnetically induced transparency to the probe field when the three lower levels (including the probe level and the two control levels) form a three-level dark state. The present scenario has potential applications in new devices (e.g. logic gates and sensitive optical switches) and new techniques (e.g. quantum coherent information storage).

Optics Express•Jan 1, 2007•36 citations

Study of coherence effects in a four-level Ξ−Λ type system

Kavita Yadav, Ajay Wasan

Abstract We theoretically study the two- and three-photon coherence in a Ξ−Λ type four-level system for stationary as well moving atoms at the room temperature using density matrix formalism. We discuss the role of dressed states to elucidate the electromagnetically induced transparency and electromagnetically induced absorption phenomena. The presence of the third field induces absorption at the line centre. A negative dispersion slope owing to the enhanced absorption results in super-luminal light propagation and the group index variation with the coupling field is switched from sub- to super-luminal. Group index with probe detuning shows super-luminal light propagation behaviour at the dressed state positions. The three optical fields trigger four-wave mixing as a result of the third order nonlinearity. The transient evolution is also discussed for optimum strengths of the coupling and drive fields to realize the optical switching in the system.

Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics•Apr 5, 2018•3 citations
We experimentally observe a non-linear absorption resonance in one of the two probe beams of a double Λ system which is interacting with three optical beams. This probe beam counterpropagates to the other two beams, both of which are co-propagating. The absorption resonance in this probe beam arises due to interaction between the dark states of the double Λ created by the co-propagating beams. The double Λ configuration of levels is in the D2 hyperfine manifold of 87Rb atoms, and the interaction is studied at room temperature. The non-linear absorption resonance is shown to be a three-photon process arising whenever the two co-propagating beams satisfy the two-photon Raman condition, necessary for electromagnetically induced transparency. Through a dressed state analysis, we show that the absorption feature is a result of interference between the absorption pathways to the excited states, from the ground states of the double Λ. The non-linear nature of the probe beam absorption enables it to perform like a directional optical switch. This absorption switch operates conditioned on non-absorption of a single photon of the same frequency due to a coherent process, in a beam traveling in the opposite direction.
We investigate coherent pump–probe spectroscopy of a medium of atoms in Λ configuration with a closely placed adjacent excited level. The presence of the additional level results in two simultaneous Λ resonances excited by the same pair of pump and probe fields. A master equation framework is used to discuss the probe absorption spectrum and dispersion in the absence/presence of inhomogeneous broadening, and the results are illustrated by using a model four-level system in the D2 transition of 85Rb. The system is observed to exhibit additional interference effects arising from two competing Λ resonances. These effects manifest in terms of linewidths of the triplet dressed state spectrum and suppression of the subnatural peak for the stationary atoms. The effect on electromagnetically induced transparency is discussed in the light of its shape, position and linewidth. The discussion is further augmented by the study of a six-level model as applicable to the D2 transition of 85Rb. The analysis presented here provides a realistic theoretical description of the pump–probe spectroscopy of hyperfine transitions of alkali atoms.
Summary form only given. In a three-level system, two resonant optical fields can excite spin coherence on the ground states via two-photon resonance. One of the two-superposition states created by the atom-field interactions is decoupled from the excited state. Thus, the population can be trapped in that state showing non-absorption resonance. The essential feature of this decoupled state is dark resonance. Therefore, the existence of the dark resonance is a basis of non-absorption resonance, coherent population trapping, and electromagnetically induced transparency. In a four-level system, however, the two-laser induced spin coherence can be broken when a third laser is applied. At the same time, new coherence between the third laser and one of the pre-existed lasers is created. This phenomenon is useful for optical switching owing to annihilation and creation of the dark resonance in the four-level system. It is noted that the switching time depends on the dark resonance build-up time, which is inversely proportional to the applied Rabi frequency. Numerical simulations are shown for potentially ultrahigh-speed optical switches. Each diffracted four-wave mixing signal is proportional to the spin coherence strength. For a preliminary experiment, a spectral hole-burning crystal is used. The intensity of the diffracted signals is reversed at line center. This coherence switching effect is based on the dark resonance interactions.
We experimentally study the absorption spectroscopy from a collection of gaseous 87Rb atoms at room temperature irradiated with three fields. Two of these fields are in a pump–probe saturation absorption configuration. The third field co-propagates with the pump field. The three fields address Zeeman degenerate transitions between hyperfine levels 5S1/2, F = 1 and 5P3/2, F = 0, F = 1 around the D2 line. We find a sub-natural absorption resonance in the counter-propagating probe field for equal detunings of all three fields. This absorption arises in conjunction with the appearance of increased transmission due to electro-magnetically induced transparency in the co-propagating fields. The novel feature of this absorption is its onset only for the blue of 5P3/2, F = 0, as the laser frequency is scanned through the excited states 5P3/2, F = 0, F = 1 and F = 2. The absorption rapidly rises to near maximum values within a narrow band of frequency near 5P3/2, F = 0. Our experimental results are compared with a dressed atom model. We find the threshold absorption to be a result of coherent interaction between the dressed states of our system.
The double resonance phenomenon of EIT is studied through the ladder three-level Rydberg system. A probe laser with the wavelength λp=852.35 nm is used to coupling the ground state 6S1/2 to the middle state 6P3/2, and a coupling laser with the wavelength λc=509.08 nm is implemented to couple the state 6P3/2 to the Rydberg state 62D5/2. A special optical scheme is designed, in which the co-propagating and counter-propagating configurations are both used. As a result, the double resonance of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) with the Rydberg atom is observed. By comparing the distance between the double peaks, it is found that the double resonance phenomenon comes from the Doppler effect, and the distance between the two resonance peaks in the absorption spectrum is related to the detuning of the resonant lasers.
A new scheme is suggested to manipulate the probe transitions (and hence the optical properties of atomic vapors) via double-control destructive and constructive quantum interferences. The influence of phase coherence between the two control transitions on the probe transition is also studied. The most remarkable feature of the present scheme is that the optical properties (absorption, transparency and dispersion) of an atomic system can be manipulated using this double-control multi-pathway interferences (multiple routes to excitation). It is also shown that a four-level system will exhibit a two-level resonant absorption because the two control levels (driven by the two control fields) form a dark state (and hence a destructive quantum interference occurs between the two control transitions). However, the present four-level system will exhibit electromagnetically induced transparency to the probe field when the three lower levels (including the probe level and the two control levels) form a three-level dark state. The present scenario has potential applications in new devices (e.g. logic gates and sensitive optical switches) and new techniques (e.g. quantum coherent information storage).
Abstract We theoretically study the two- and three-photon coherence in a Ξ−Λ type four-level system for stationary as well moving atoms at the room temperature using density matrix formalism. We discuss the role of dressed states to elucidate the electromagnetically induced transparency and electromagnetically induced absorption phenomena. The presence of the third field induces absorption at the line centre. A negative dispersion slope owing to the enhanced absorption results in super-luminal light propagation and the group index variation with the coupling field is switched from sub- to super-luminal. Group index with probe detuning shows super-luminal light propagation behaviour at the dressed state positions. The three optical fields trigger four-wave mixing as a result of the third order nonlinearity. The transient evolution is also discussed for optimum strengths of the coupling and drive fields to realize the optical switching in the system.