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

Physical Review A

Quantum theory of multiwave mixing. XI. Effects of side-mode saturation

Sunghyuck An, Murray Sargent

Published Jul 1, 1989• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

We extend the quantum theory of multiwave mixing developed in previous papers in this series to include side-mode saturation. Specifically, the earlier papers calculate the absorption and resonance-fluorescence coefficients to second order in the weak-field interaction for an arbitrarily intense pump field. This paper extends those calculations to fourth order in the weak-field interaction. We find significant differences in the amplified resonance fluorescence spectra given by the second- and fourth-order treatments, particularly as the side mode approaches the laser threshold. In particular, while the second-order spectra diverge at this threshold, the fourth-order spectra remain finite. Although fourth- and higher-order theories are very desirable for applications to larger fields and optical instabilities, the present analysis reveals that their calculation is very complex. This fact poses an important limitation to the generalization of the theory to still higher-order accuracies.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.40.795

Related papers

Theory of multiwave mixing in two- and three-level media.

Sunghyuck An

This dissertation presents theories of multiwave mixing in two- and three-level media. The first part of the dissertation treats the semiclassical theories in two-level media. Chapter 2 gives the simple semiclassical theory of four-wave mixing when the two pump frequences differ by more than the reciprocal of the population-difference lifetime. This difference washes out the pump spatial holes as well as one of the two reflection gratings. We compare the results to the degenerate treatment of Abrams and Lind and find significant differences in the reflection coefficient spectra. Chapter 3 presents the semiclassical theory of multiwave in a squeezed vacuum characterized by unequal in-phase and in-quadrature dipole decay times. For a highly squeezed vacuum, we find sharp resonances in both probe absorption and reflection coefficients, which provide sensitive ways to measure the amount of squeezing in the vacuum. The second part of the dissertation treats the quantum theories in two- and three-level media. Chapter 4 develops the fourth-order quantum theory of multiwave mixing to describe the effects of sidemode saturation in two-level media. We derive explicit formulas for the fourth-order quantum coefficients and show that the fourth-order quantum theory reproduces the third-order semiclassical coefficient obtained by truncating a continued fraction. We apply the results to cavity problems and find significant differences in the sideband spectra given by the second- and fourth-order treatments, particularly as the sidemode approaches the laser threshold. The final chapter presents a quantum theory of multiwave mixing in three-level cascades with a two-photon pump. The explicit formulas for the resonance fluorescence spectrum and the quantum combination-tone source term are derived. The theory is applied to the generation of squeezed states of light. We find almost perfect squeezing for some strong pump intensities and good broad-band squeezing for low pump intensities.

•Jan 1, 1988•0 citations

Quantum theory of multiwave mixing. II. Operator approach

Stig Stenholm, David A. Holm, Murray Sargent

This paper treats the interaction of one strong classical field mode and one or two weak quantal modes with two-level systems. The analysis is carried out in a purely operator formalism that complements the method presented in the preceding paper and produces the same results. The present approach automatically collects all contributions to second order in the weak-field interactions, and can be easier to extend to more complicated cases. The analysis allows one to treat problems such as predicting the growth of sidemodes in laser- and optical-bistability instabilities, the resonance fluorescence spectrum, Rayleigh scattering, and quantum noise in small-signal phase conjugation.

Physical Review A•May 1, 1985•42 citations

Quantum theory of multiwave mixing with a local field correction

Sunghyuck An, B. K. Rhee

In this paper, we calculate the four coefficients for the quantum theory of multiwave mixing including a local-field correction resulting from dipole-dipole interactions. We make contact with the semiclassical calculations of probe absorption and four-wave-mixing coupling coefficients, and illustrate the effects of local field corrections on resonance-fluorescence and coupled-mode-fluorescence spectra. The method uses the hybrid quantum-Langevin-equation master-equation approach of An and Sargent.

Journal of the Optical Society of Korea•Sep 1, 1997•2 citations

Quantum theory of multiwave mixing. V. Two-photon two-level model

David A. Holm, Murray Sargent

We extend our theoretical formalism describing how one strong classical wave and one or two weak quantum-mechanical waves interact in a nonlinear medium to the ``two-photon two-level'' model. In this model, field transitions between two levels not connected by an electric dipole occur by means of a two-photon transition using off-resonant intermediate levels. This model has many similarities with, as well as significant differences from, the corresponding one-photon two-level model that has been treated in the previous papers in this series. The theory yields the first detailed calculation of the two-photon resonance fluorescence spectrum, as well as the complete set of four coefficients that describe the quantum theory of two-, three-, and four-wave mixing.

Physical Review A•Feb 1, 1986•19 citations

Quantum theory of multiwave mixing. III. Averages over inhomogeneous broadening, spatial hole burning, and Gaussian beams

David A. Holm, Murray Sargent, Lois M. Hoffer

The effects of inhomogeneous broadening, spatial hole burning, and Gaussian beams are calculated for the four coefficients derived in previous papers in this series [Phys. Rev. A 31, 3112 (1985); 31, 3124 (1985)] on the quantum theory of multiwave mixing. These coefficients uniformly describe how one or two strong classical-field modes and one or two weak quantum-field modes interact in a two-level medium. The phenomena for which this theory is applicable includes resonance fluorescence, Rayleigh scattering, laser and/or optical bistability instabilities, and phase conjugation. The averaged formulas are illustrated by resonance-fluorescence spectra. We find the sidepeaks can be ``washed out'' and that asymmetries can occur.

Physical Review A•Aug 1, 1985•26 citations

Quantum theory of multiwave mixing IV Effects of cavities on the spectrum of resonance fluorescence

David A. Holm, Stig Stenholm, M. Sargent

In the presence of a high-finesse cavity, the resonance fluorescence spectrum can be altered by stimulated emission and multiwave mixing processes. We show that under some conditions it is possible for spontaneous emission to induce conjugate fields similar to semiclassical phase conjugation, requiring the use of the multiwave quantum theory described in earlier papers in this series. The theory is applicable to laser spectroscopy and optical bistability. We present explicit spectra and suggest possible experimental tests. In particular we find a quantum limit for FM spectroscopy that shows that even if the medium under study leaves the FM phase and amplitude relationships intact according to semiclassical theory, spontaneous emission can create an AM component detectable in a square-law detector.

Journal of the Optical Society of America B•Sep 1, 1985•30 citations
We extend the quantum theory of multiwave mixing developed in previous papers in this series to include side-mode saturation. Specifically, the earlier papers calculate the absorption and resonance-fluorescence coefficients to second order in the weak-field interaction for an arbitrarily intense pump field. This paper extends those calculations to fourth order in the weak-field interaction. We find significant differences in the amplified resonance fluorescence spectra given by the second- and fourth-order treatments, particularly as the side mode approaches the laser threshold. In particular, while the second-order spectra diverge at this threshold, the fourth-order spectra remain finite. Although fourth- and higher-order theories are very desirable for applications to larger fields and optical instabilities, the present analysis reveals that their calculation is very complex. This fact poses an important limitation to the generalization of the theory to still higher-order accuracies.
This dissertation presents theories of multiwave mixing in two- and three-level media. The first part of the dissertation treats the semiclassical theories in two-level media. Chapter 2 gives the simple semiclassical theory of four-wave mixing when the two pump frequences differ by more than the reciprocal of the population-difference lifetime. This difference washes out the pump spatial holes as well as one of the two reflection gratings. We compare the results to the degenerate treatment of Abrams and Lind and find significant differences in the reflection coefficient spectra. Chapter 3 presents the semiclassical theory of multiwave in a squeezed vacuum characterized by unequal in-phase and in-quadrature dipole decay times. For a highly squeezed vacuum, we find sharp resonances in both probe absorption and reflection coefficients, which provide sensitive ways to measure the amount of squeezing in the vacuum. The second part of the dissertation treats the quantum theories in two- and three-level media. Chapter 4 develops the fourth-order quantum theory of multiwave mixing to describe the effects of sidemode saturation in two-level media. We derive explicit formulas for the fourth-order quantum coefficients and show that the fourth-order quantum theory reproduces the third-order semiclassical coefficient obtained by truncating a continued fraction. We apply the results to cavity problems and find significant differences in the sideband spectra given by the second- and fourth-order treatments, particularly as the sidemode approaches the laser threshold. The final chapter presents a quantum theory of multiwave mixing in three-level cascades with a two-photon pump. The explicit formulas for the resonance fluorescence spectrum and the quantum combination-tone source term are derived. The theory is applied to the generation of squeezed states of light. We find almost perfect squeezing for some strong pump intensities and good broad-band squeezing for low pump intensities.
This paper treats the interaction of one strong classical field mode and one or two weak quantal modes with two-level systems. The analysis is carried out in a purely operator formalism that complements the method presented in the preceding paper and produces the same results. The present approach automatically collects all contributions to second order in the weak-field interactions, and can be easier to extend to more complicated cases. The analysis allows one to treat problems such as predicting the growth of sidemodes in laser- and optical-bistability instabilities, the resonance fluorescence spectrum, Rayleigh scattering, and quantum noise in small-signal phase conjugation.
In this paper, we calculate the four coefficients for the quantum theory of multiwave mixing including a local-field correction resulting from dipole-dipole interactions. We make contact with the semiclassical calculations of probe absorption and four-wave-mixing coupling coefficients, and illustrate the effects of local field corrections on resonance-fluorescence and coupled-mode-fluorescence spectra. The method uses the hybrid quantum-Langevin-equation master-equation approach of An and Sargent.
We extend our theoretical formalism describing how one strong classical wave and one or two weak quantum-mechanical waves interact in a nonlinear medium to the ``two-photon two-level'' model. In this model, field transitions between two levels not connected by an electric dipole occur by means of a two-photon transition using off-resonant intermediate levels. This model has many similarities with, as well as significant differences from, the corresponding one-photon two-level model that has been treated in the previous papers in this series. The theory yields the first detailed calculation of the two-photon resonance fluorescence spectrum, as well as the complete set of four coefficients that describe the quantum theory of two-, three-, and four-wave mixing.
The effects of inhomogeneous broadening, spatial hole burning, and Gaussian beams are calculated for the four coefficients derived in previous papers in this series [Phys. Rev. A 31, 3112 (1985); 31, 3124 (1985)] on the quantum theory of multiwave mixing. These coefficients uniformly describe how one or two strong classical-field modes and one or two weak quantum-field modes interact in a two-level medium. The phenomena for which this theory is applicable includes resonance fluorescence, Rayleigh scattering, laser and/or optical bistability instabilities, and phase conjugation. The averaged formulas are illustrated by resonance-fluorescence spectra. We find the sidepeaks can be ``washed out'' and that asymmetries can occur.
In the presence of a high-finesse cavity, the resonance fluorescence spectrum can be altered by stimulated emission and multiwave mixing processes. We show that under some conditions it is possible for spontaneous emission to induce conjugate fields similar to semiclassical phase conjugation, requiring the use of the multiwave quantum theory described in earlier papers in this series. The theory is applicable to laser spectroscopy and optical bistability. We present explicit spectra and suggest possible experimental tests. In particular we find a quantum limit for FM spectroscopy that shows that even if the medium under study leaves the FM phase and amplitude relationships intact according to semiclassical theory, spontaneous emission can create an AM component detectable in a square-law detector.