Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE
An optical prism based on resonance ultra-dispersive media
Vladimir A. Sautenkov, Hebin Li, Yuri V. Rostovtsev, Marlan O. Scully
Abstract
We have theoretically predicted and experimentally demonstrated an ultra-dispersive atomic prism made of coherently driven Rb atomic vapor. The prism posses spectral angular dispersion that six orders of magnetude higher than the prism made from optical glass; it is the highest spectral angular dispersion that has been ever shown (such angular dispersion allows one to resolve spatially light separated by a few kHz). The prism is working near the resonant frequency of atomic vapor, and its dispersion is optically controlled by coherent driving field.