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Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics

Subluminal and superluminal pulse propagation influenced by strong nonlinear effects

Zengguang Chang, Yihong Qi, Yueping Niu, Jingtao Zhang, Shangqing Gong

Published Nov 15, 2012• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A scheme is proposed for control of pulse propagation from subluminal to superluminal in a four-level Λ-type atomic system. With the relatively intense probe laser and the appropriate detuning of control field, the medium exhibits much lower absorption in the spectral ranges where the dispersion changes from normal to abnormal in the double electromagnetically induced transparency system than in the single electromagnetically induced transparency system. The transmission intensity can be enhanced by several times for the subluminal pulse propagation and by several orders of magnitude for the superluminal pulse propagation without the large distortion in the former compared with those in the latter. We attribute the dramatic absorption reduction to the enhanced nonlinear effects.

DOI
10.1088/0953-4075/45/23/235401

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A scheme is proposed for control of pulse propagation from subluminal to superluminal in a four-level Λ-type atomic system. With the relatively intense probe laser and the appropriate detuning of control field, the medium exhibits much lower absorption in the spectral ranges where the dispersion changes from normal to abnormal in the double electromagnetically induced transparency system than in the single electromagnetically induced transparency system. The transmission intensity can be enhanced by several times for the subluminal pulse propagation and by several orders of magnitude for the superluminal pulse propagation without the large distortion in the former compared with those in the latter. We attribute the dramatic absorption reduction to the enhanced nonlinear effects.
Contrary to popular belief, we demonstrate the feasibility of generating superluminal (and subluminal) probe (and signal) light via electromagnetically induced transparency in a medium comprising coupled double-ladder systems. This scheme can be realized in both homogeneously (radiative) as well as in inhomogeneously (Doppler) broadened atomic systems. Unlike more intricate earlier schemes, our scheme is based simply on steady-state propagation dynamics resulting from compensation of the inevitable absorption losses by large nonlinear gain generated through appropriate choice of the pump and coupling fields. We show how easily in this scheme the speed of weak probe (and signal) fields can be switched from subluminal to superluminal by simply varying the strengths of the coherent pump and coupling fields. Furthermore, it is shown that under these conditions both the signal and probe fields are intensity matched and both propagate with the same subluminal (or superluminal) group velocity without suffering loss or gain for long distance in the medium.
The interaction of a weak probe laser with an inverted Y-type four-level atomic system driven by two additional coherent fields is investigated theoretically. Under the influence of the coherent coupling fields, the steady-state linear susceptibility of the probe laser shows that the system can have single or double electromagnetically induced transparency windows depending on the amplitude and the detuning of the coupling lasers. The corresponding index of refraction associated with the group velocity of the probe laser can be controlled at both transparency windows by the coupling fields. The propagation of the probe field can be switched from superluminal near the resonance to subluminal on resonance within the single transparency window when two coupling lasers are on resonance. We propose an atomic 87Rb system for experimental observation.
We investigate the behavior of light pulse propagation in a 4-level double Lambda atomic system under condition of electromagnetically induced transparency. The Fano type interference effect and spectral hole burning appears in the the dynamics of the absorption-dispersion spectra caused by the joint nonlinear coherence Kerr effect and Doppler broadening. The coherent Kerr effect exhibits an enhancement (reduction) in superluminal (subluminal) in negative (in positive) group index while the Doppler broadening generates multiple hole burning in the Autler-Townes like spectra of this system. The hole burning in addition with coherent Kerr effect on the spectral profile influences the dynamics of subluminal and superluminal of the probe pulse through the medium. The characteristics of superluminality and subluminality modified by considering cold-Kerr-free medium and hot-Kerr-dependent mediums. The light pulse delays and advances in different regions of dispersion medium with the Doppler broadening and coherent Kerr effect. Consequently, the pulse delays by 49μs49μs49μs, while advance by −91μs-91μs−91μs, for a same set of parameters [note: a revised version is under preparation
We use four-level atomic system and control the wave propagation via forbidden decay rate. The Raman gain process becomes dominant on electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) medium by increasing the forbidden decay rate via increasing the number of atoms [G.S. Agarwal and T.N. Dey, Phys. Rev. A 74 (2006) 043805 and K. Harada, T. Kanbashi, and M. Mitsunaga, Phys. Rev. A 73 (2006) 013803 ]. The behavior of wave propagation is dramatically changed from normal (subluminal) to anomalous (superluminal) dispersion by increasing the forbidden decay rate. The system can also give a control over the group velocity of the light propagating through the medium via Kerr field.
We study the dispersion and absorption spectra of a weak probe in a $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$-type three-level atomic system with closely ground sublevels driven by a strong field and damped by a broadband squeezed vacuum. We analyze the interplay between the spontaneous generated coherence and the squeezed field on the susceptibility of the atomic system. We find that by varying the intensity of the squeezed field the group velocity of a weak pulse can change from subluminal to superluminal. In addition we exploit the fact that the properties of the atomic medium can be dramatically modified by controlling the relative phase between the driving field and the squeezed field, allowing us to manipulate the group velocity at which light propagates. The physical origin of this phenomenon corresponds to a transfer of the atomic coherence from electromagnetically induced transparency to electromagnetically induced absorption. Besides, this phenomenon is achieved under nearly transparency conditions and with negligible distortion of the propagation pulse.
Abstract The manipulation of the group velocity of light is very important in further information processing and quantum network. It is well known that subluminal and superluminal light propagation can be obtained by controlling the dispersion property of the experimental medium. In order to realize the switching from normal dispersion to anomalous dispersion at the same frequency, we investigate the dispersion and absorption properties of a four-level atomic system. By adjusting the intensity of an incoherent pump, we get transparent normal dispersion and lossless anomalous dispersion, which lead to subluminal and superluminal light propagation respectively. For a strong incoherent pump, the intensity of the coherent coupling field also can be used to realize a similar switching effect.