We use the technique of electro-magnetically induced transparency (EIT) to probe the effect of attractive dipole-dipole interactions in a highly excited Rydberg gas. The transient character of the EIT response is investigated by rapidly scanning the probe laser through resonance. We characterize the resulting cooperative optical non-linearity as a function of probe strength, density and scan direction. For the 58D $_{5/2}$ Rydberg state, an atom density of $1.6\times10^{10} $cm$ ^{-3}$ and a positive frequency scan we measure a third-order non-linearity of $χ^{(3)}=5\times 10^{-7}$ m $^2$ V $^{-2}$ . For the reverse scan we observe a second order non-linearity of $χ^{(2)}=5\times 10^{-6}$ mV $^{-1}$ . The contrasting behaviour can be explained in terms of motional effects and resonant excitation of Rydberg pairs.We use the technique of electro-magnetically induced transparency (EIT) to probe the effect of attractive dipole-dipole interactions in a highly excited Rydberg gas. The transient character of the EIT response is investigated by rapidly scanning the probe laser through resonance. We characterize the resulting cooperative optical non-linearity as a function of probe strength, density and scan direction. For the 58D$_{5/2}$ Rydberg state, an atom density of $1.6\times10^{10} $cm$^{-3}$ and a positive frequency scan we measure a third-order non-linearity of $χ^{(3)}=5\times 10^{-7}$ m$^2$V$^{-2}$. For the reverse scan we observe a second order non-linearity of $χ^{(2)}=5\times 10^{-6}$ mV$^{-1}$. The contrasting behaviour can be explained in terms of motional effects and resonant excitation of Rydberg pairs.

arXiv:1102.0669Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical PhysicsSep 14, 201126 citations

On second-order optical processes

J.R. Chamberlain

Physics Letters AMay 1, 19790 citations

Optical non-linearity in an attractive Rydberg gas

Jonathan D. Pritchard, A. Gauguet, Kevin J. Weatherill +1 more

We use the technique of electro-magnetically induced transparency (EIT) to probe the effect of attractive dipole-dipole interactions in a hi ghly excited Rydberg gas. The transient character of the EIT response is investigated by rapidly scanning the probe laser through resonance. We characterize the resulting cooperative optical non-linearity as a function of probe strength, density and scan direction. For the 58D5/2 Rydberg state, an atom density of 1.6 � 10 10 cm 3 and a positive frequency scan we measure a third-order non-linearity of � (3) = 5 � 10 7 m 2 V 2 . For the reverse scan we observe a second order non-linearity of � (2) = 5 � 10 6 mV 1 . The contrasting behaviour can be explained in terms of motional effects and resonant excitation of Rydberg pairs.We use the technique of electro-magnetically induced transparency (EIT) to probe the effect of attractive dipole-dipole interactions in a hi ghly excited Rydberg gas. The transient character of the EIT response is investigated by rapidly scanning the probe laser through resonance. We characterize the resulting cooperative optical non-linearity as a function of probe strength, density and scan direction. For the 58D5/2 Rydberg state, an atom density of 1.6 � 10 10 cm 3 and a positive frequency scan we measure a third-order non-linearity of � (3) = 5 � 10 7 m 2 V 2 . For the reverse scan we observe a second order non-linearity of � (2) = 5 � 10 6 mV 1 . The contrasting behaviour can be explained in terms of motional effects and resonant excitation of Rydberg pairs.

Feb 3, 20110 citations

Dynamics of non-linear optical processes

Jan Peřina

Czechoslovak Journal of PhysicsFeb 1, 197627 citations

Coherent processes in electromagnetically induced absorption: a steady and transient study

Jelena Dimitrijević, D. Arsenović, B. M. Jelenkovic

A perturbation method was used to solve optical Bloch equations (OBEs) for the transition F g =1→ F e =2, in order to describe the role of ground-level Zeeman coherences in the formation of electromagnetically induced absorption (EIA). A narrow Lorentzian peak, centered at zero value of the scanning magnetic field, appears in the analytical expression of the second-order correction of a density-matrix element for ground-level Zeeman coherences, (ρ g −1 , g +1 ) x 2 . Through analytical expressions for lower-order corrections of density-matrix elements, we were able to establish clear relations between the narrow Lorentzian in (ρ g − 1 , g +1 ) x 2 and higher-order corrections of optical coherences, i.e. EIA. We see from analytical expressions that these two resonances have opposite signs and that EIA becomes electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in the limit of low efficiency of spontaneous transfer of coherences from excited-level to ground-level Zeeman sublevels. The transient behavior of EIA follows the time evolution of (ρ g − 1 , g +1 ) x 2 . After the coupling laser is turned on, both the Lorentzian peak in (ρ g − 1 , g +1 ) x 2 and EIA reach steady state via over-damped oscillations.A perturbation method was used to solve optical Bloch equations (OBEs) for the transition F g =1→ F e =2, in order to describe the role of ground-level Zeeman coherences in the formation of electromagnetically induced absorption (EIA). A narrow Lorentzian peak, centered at zero value of the scanning magnetic field, appears in the analytical expression of the second-order correction of a density-matrix element for ground-level Zeeman coherences, (ρ g −1 , g +1 ) x 2 . Through analytical expressions for lower-order corrections of density-matrix elements, we were able to establish clear relations between the narrow Lorentzian in (ρ g − 1 , g +1 ) x 2 and higher-order corrections of optical coherences, i.e. EIA. We see from analytical expressions that these two resonances have opposite signs and that EIA becomes electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in the limit of low efficiency of spontaneous transfer of coherences from excited-level to ground-level Zeeman sublevels. The transient behavior of EIA follows the time evolution of (ρ g − 1 , g +1 ) x 2 . After the coupling laser is turned on, both the Lorentzian peak in (ρ g − 1 , g +1 ) x 2 and EIA reach steady state via over-damped oscillations.

New Journal of PhysicsMar 8, 201111 citations

Optical Coherent Transient Effects

WORLD SCIENTIFIC eBooksDec 1, 19990 citations

_{5/2}

Rydberg state, an atom density of $1.6\times10^{10}

cm

^{-3}$ and a positive frequency scan we measure a third-order non-linearity of

χ^{(3)}=5\times 10^{-7}

^2

^{-2}

. For the reverse scan we observe a second order non-linearity of

χ^{(2)}=5\times 10^{-6}

^{-1}

. The contrasting behaviour can be explained in terms of motional effects and resonant excitation of Rydberg pairs.