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Journal of Modern Optics

Optical analogue of coherent population trapping via a continuum in optical waveguide arrays

Stefano Longhi

Published Oct 16, 2008• 37 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A classic wave optics analogue of coherent population trapping of bound states coupled to a common continuum, based on destructive interference of optical tunneling pathways in evanescently-coupled optical waveguides, is theoretically proposed. Our optical model is exactly solvable and allows for a very simple physical explanation of the trapping effect.

DOI
10.1080/09500340802187373

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A classic wave optics analogue of coherent population trapping of bound states coupled to a common continuum, based on destructive interference of optical tunneling pathways in evanescently-coupled optical waveguides, is theoretically proposed. Our optical model is exactly solvable and allows for a very simple physical explanation of the trapping effect.
A quantum theory of light propagation in two optical channel waveguides tunneling coupled to a common continuum of modes (such as those of a slab waveguide) is presented, and classical and quantum interference effects are investigated. For classical light, the photonic system realizes an optical analog of coherent population trapping in the continuum encountered in atomic physics, where destructive interference between different light leakage channels leads to the appearance of a trapped state embedded in the continuum. For nonclassical light, two-photon interference effects are predicted, such as the tendency of photon pairs to bunch when decaying into the continuum.
Classical wave optical analogs of coherent population transfer via a continuum, recently demonstrated for laser-driven atoms and molecules in the atomic physics context, are theoretically proposed for light waves propagating in waveguide-based photonic structures. In particular, it is shown that exploitation of the optical analogs of two-photon Rabi oscillations and stimulated Raman adiabatic passage via continuous states enables efficient transfer of light waves between two channel optical waveguides side coupled to a slab waveguide.
A semiclassical model consisting of two noninteracting waveguide arrays along with three side-coupled waveguides is presented to demonstrate the optical analogue of double Fano resonance. The photonic system is configured so that it causes simultaneous cross coupling between two decay channels via one array and another two decay channels via the other array. Owing to the two individual interference effects, the decay-rate profile for the waveguide coupled directly to the continuum exhibits two asymmetric peaks, or dips, or a combination of one peak and one dip in the vicinity of the frequency mismatches. As far as the distribution of optical field amplitudes in the side-coupled waveguides is concerned, the present model also demonstrates the features of optical trapping (optical analogue of coherent population trapping) in side-coupled waveguides under certain symmetric parametric conditions.
In this article, simultaneous interaction of two side-coupled waveguides is considered with the dressed continuum represented by a linear waveguide array in which two consecutive pairs of waveguides are coupled in phase (positive coupling) and out-of-phase (negative coupling) alternately. It causes cross-coupling between the two evanescent decay-channels and results in the phenomenon of Rabi-like oscillations of the light field in spatial domain during propagation through the side waveguides. The profile of population exchange between the two side waveguides depends on the distinctive parameter conditions. It is interesting to note that, under no circumstances, light energy resides in the continuum.