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Frontiers in Optics

Observation of a Frequency-Shift in Rb Absorption Spectrum using an Optical Nanofiber in a Vapor Cell

Amy Watkins, Kieran Deasy, Jonathan M. Ward, Síle Nic Chormaic

Published Jan 1, 2010• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We present results obtained using a tapered optical fiber to observe the atom-surface interactions of a hot rubidium vapor. A frequency shift in the absorption spectrum as a function of rubidium vapor density is investigated.
DOI
10.1364/fio.2010.fthaa6

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We report the observation of low-light level optical interactions in a tapered optical nanofiber (TNF) embedded in a hot rubidium vapor. The small optical mode area plays a significant role in the optical properties of the hot vapor Rb-TNF system, allowing nonlinear optical interactions with nW level powers even in the presence of transit-time dephasing rates much larger than the intrinsic linewidth. We demonstrate nonlinear absorption and V-type electromagnetically induced transparency with cw powers below 10 nW, comparable to the best results in any Rb-optical waveguide system. The good performance and flexibility of the Rb-TNF system makes it a very promising candidate for ultralow power resonant nonlinear optical applications.
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Subwavelength-diameter tapered optical fibers surrounded by rubidium vapor can undergo a substantial decrease in transmission at high atomic densities due to the accumulation of rubidium atoms on the surface of the fiber. Here we demonstrate the ability to control these changes in transmission using light guided within the taper. We observe transmission through a tapered fiber that is a nonlinear function of the incident power. This effect can also allow a strong control beam to change the transmission of a weak probe beam.
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