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

Optics Express

Slow light based on coherent hole-burning in a Doppler broadened three-level Λ-type atomic system

Shang-qi Kuang, Peng Dong Du, Ren-Gang Wan, Yun Jiang, Jin-Yue Gao

Published Jul 18, 2008• 14 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We show theoretically that the propagation of light can be slowed down considerably using the method of coherent hole-burning in a Doppler broadened three-level lambda-type atomic medium without the Doppler-free configurations. The reduction of group velocity of light pulse is achieved by the application of a saturating beam and a strong coupling beam which produce a narrow spectral hole-burning at resonance. We can obtain a larger group index than that using the method of saturation absorption spectroscopy in Doppler-broadened two-level atomic systems.

DOI
10.1364/oe.16.011604

Related papers

Slow light by coherent hole burnings

Qiongyi He, Bing Zhang, Xiaogang Wei +3 more

We show that the simultaneous application of a copropagating saturating pump and a counterpropagating coherent beam can be used to burn a narrow spectral hole within the absorption line of the optical transition in a Doppler-broadened medium. The large index of refraction of this hole slows down a light pulse by a factor of about ${10}^{4}$. In addition, we propose a method to create two-color slow light pulses with simultaneous gain by employing a bichromatic field to saturate the medium.

Physical Review A•Jun 18, 2008•4 citations

Coherent hole-burning phenomenon in a Doppler broadened three-level -type atomic system

Jin‐Hui Wu, Xiaogang Wei, Dong-Feng Wang +2 more

In a Doppler broadened three-level Λ-type atomic system, we investigate the absorption spectrum of a weak probe laser in the presence of a saturating laser and a coupling laser. We find that, in order to observe coherent hole-burnings effectively, the two lower levels should be so well spaced that atomic collisions can be neglected, and the saturating (coupling) laser should counter-propagate (co-propagate) with the probe laser. We also give a qualitative analysis to understand the physical origin of coherent hole-burnings.

Journal of Optics B Quantum and Semiclassical Optics•Nov 3, 2003•16 citations

Slow light in Doppler-broadened two-level systems

G. S. Agarwal, Tarak Nath Dey

We show that the propagation of light in a Doppler-broadened medium can be slowed down considerably even though such medium exhibits very flat dispersion. The slowing down is achieved by the application of a saturating counter propagating beam that produces a hole in the inhomogeneous line shape. In atomic vapors, we calculate group indices of the order of ${10}^{3}.$ The calculations include all coherence effects.

arXiv:quant-ph/0310012•Physical Review A•Dec 16, 2003•72 citations

A saturable absorber, coherent population oscillations, and slow light

Valerii S Zapasskii, G. G. Kozlov

The paper presents a critical analysis of publications on one of the methods of creating so-called slow light (light with an anomalously low group velocity) arising due to a high steepness of the refractive index dispersion curve. The method employs, for this purpose, the effect of coherent population oscillations accompanied by burning of a narrow spectral hole in the homogeneously broadened absorption spectrum. The interpretation of the experimental data in the studies under consideration is based on the analysis of the response of a nonlinear medium to a low-frequency intensity modulation of the propagating light beam. We show that all the observations of these papers can be easily interpreted in the framework of the simplest model of a saturable absorber and have nothing to do with the hole burning effect or group velocity reduction.

arXiv:physics/0509181•Optics and Spectroscopy•Mar 1, 2006•46 citations

Optical hole-burnings and slow light in atoms vapors with laser interaction

李东康 Li Dongkang, 刘玉娟 Liu Yujuan

Five coherent hole-burning can be simultaneously observed in the absorption spectra of four-level N-style atoms vapors. In this system they adopt a saturated laser co-propagates and two coupling lasers counter-propagate with a probe laser, and the saturated laser can not be in the destructive Doppler state with the probe light. The positions of the coherent hole-burning can be explained by Dressed-state theory. The middle narrow deep hole-burning is induced by the superposition of two coherent hole-burnings. The depth of the coherent hole-burning can be changed by adjusting the reference parameters and the Rabi frequency of the saturated laser. The positions of the coherent hole-burning can be changed by modulating the Rabi frequency of the probe light. By numerical simulation it is found that Rabi frequency of the saturated light plays an important role in slowing the propagating speed. These results may be useful in optical quantum memory and optical quantum information.

Infrared and Laser Engineering•Jan 1, 2016•0 citations

Controlled multiple spectral hole burning via a tripod-type atomic medium

Gul Tiaz, Haleema Sadia Qureshi, Shakir Ullah +1 more

Abstract In limit of saturation spectroscopy, we theoretically study the spectral hole burning (SHB) in the absorption spectrum of a probe field through a tripod atomic system. The response function for the probe field is calculated in a Doppler-broadened medium. Burning of spectral holes is observed only for the counter propagation of either one or both the coupling fields in the medium. The SHB is not observed below some critical temperature which is a condition for the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in the medium. The most interesting and significant feature is that the Doppler broadening acts as a decoherence effect in case of EIT, however, the Doppler broadening acts inversely in case of SHB and consequently the burning effect enhances. The SHB is further enhanced and controlled by classes of the average velocity of atoms. The classes of high average atomic velocity in the medium increase the number of spectral hole burns (HBs). The widths of HBs can be controlled by the intensity of the driving fields. A single HB can be switched to multiple HBs in a well-controlled manner using different classes of high average atomic velocity. The various switchable holes can be burned in a desired position of the absorption spectrum which in turn simultaneously slow down multiple probe fields. The phenomenon of SHB may be useful in the construction of multichannel optical switching and storage devices.

New Journal of Physics•Jan 1, 2024•2 citations
We show theoretically that the propagation of light can be slowed down considerably using the method of coherent hole-burning in a Doppler broadened three-level lambda-type atomic medium without the Doppler-free configurations. The reduction of group velocity of light pulse is achieved by the application of a saturating beam and a strong coupling beam which produce a narrow spectral hole-burning at resonance. We can obtain a larger group index than that using the method of saturation absorption spectroscopy in Doppler-broadened two-level atomic systems.
We show that the simultaneous application of a copropagating saturating pump and a counterpropagating coherent beam can be used to burn a narrow spectral hole within the absorption line of the optical transition in a Doppler-broadened medium. The large index of refraction of this hole slows down a light pulse by a factor of about 104{10}^{4}104. In addition, we propose a method to create two-color slow light pulses with simultaneous gain by employing a bichromatic field to saturate the medium.
In a Doppler broadened three-level Λ-type atomic system, we investigate the absorption spectrum of a weak probe laser in the presence of a saturating laser and a coupling laser. We find that, in order to observe coherent hole-burnings effectively, the two lower levels should be so well spaced that atomic collisions can be neglected, and the saturating (coupling) laser should counter-propagate (co-propagate) with the probe laser. We also give a qualitative analysis to understand the physical origin of coherent hole-burnings.
We show that the propagation of light in a Doppler-broadened medium can be slowed down considerably even though such medium exhibits very flat dispersion. The slowing down is achieved by the application of a saturating counter propagating beam that produces a hole in the inhomogeneous line shape. In atomic vapors, we calculate group indices of the order of 103.{10}^{3}.103. The calculations include all coherence effects.
The paper presents a critical analysis of publications on one of the methods of creating so-called slow light (light with an anomalously low group velocity) arising due to a high steepness of the refractive index dispersion curve. The method employs, for this purpose, the effect of coherent population oscillations accompanied by burning of a narrow spectral hole in the homogeneously broadened absorption spectrum. The interpretation of the experimental data in the studies under consideration is based on the analysis of the response of a nonlinear medium to a low-frequency intensity modulation of the propagating light beam. We show that all the observations of these papers can be easily interpreted in the framework of the simplest model of a saturable absorber and have nothing to do with the hole burning effect or group velocity reduction.
Five coherent hole-burning can be simultaneously observed in the absorption spectra of four-level N-style atoms vapors. In this system they adopt a saturated laser co-propagates and two coupling lasers counter-propagate with a probe laser, and the saturated laser can not be in the destructive Doppler state with the probe light. The positions of the coherent hole-burning can be explained by Dressed-state theory. The middle narrow deep hole-burning is induced by the superposition of two coherent hole-burnings. The depth of the coherent hole-burning can be changed by adjusting the reference parameters and the Rabi frequency of the saturated laser. The positions of the coherent hole-burning can be changed by modulating the Rabi frequency of the probe light. By numerical simulation it is found that Rabi frequency of the saturated light plays an important role in slowing the propagating speed. These results may be useful in optical quantum memory and optical quantum information.
Abstract In limit of saturation spectroscopy, we theoretically study the spectral hole burning (SHB) in the absorption spectrum of a probe field through a tripod atomic system. The response function for the probe field is calculated in a Doppler-broadened medium. Burning of spectral holes is observed only for the counter propagation of either one or both the coupling fields in the medium. The SHB is not observed below some critical temperature which is a condition for the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in the medium. The most interesting and significant feature is that the Doppler broadening acts as a decoherence effect in case of EIT, however, the Doppler broadening acts inversely in case of SHB and consequently the burning effect enhances. The SHB is further enhanced and controlled by classes of the average velocity of atoms. The classes of high average atomic velocity in the medium increase the number of spectral hole burns (HBs). The widths of HBs can be controlled by the intensity of the driving fields. A single HB can be switched to multiple HBs in a well-controlled manner using different classes of high average atomic velocity. The various switchable holes can be burned in a desired position of the absorption spectrum which in turn simultaneously slow down multiple probe fields. The phenomenon of SHB may be useful in the construction of multichannel optical switching and storage devices.