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

Matched ultraslow propagation of highly efficient four-wave mixing in a closely cycled double-ladder system

Yanpeng Zhang, Andy W. Brown, Min Xiao

Published Nov 20, 2006• 36 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We present a fully time dependent, adiabatic solution, and steady-state analysis for the ultraslow propagation of the nondegenerate four-wave mixing (NDFWM) signal and the weak probe beam in a closely-cycled double-ladder system. Under appropriate (especially power balance) conditions, the two-mode probe and phase-matched NDFWM pulses, after a characteristic propagation length, evolve into a pair of amplitude and group velocity matched pulses. Double transparency for the probe and NDFWM beams can be achieved owing to an efficient one- and three-photon destructive interference involving the NDFWM beam and its back reaction to the probe beam. The forward and backward configurations are investigated in this double-ladder system, and their efficiencies are calculated and compared.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.74.053813

Related papers

Propagation dynamics of a temporally, amplitude- and group-velocity-matched two-mode ultraslow wave in a three-level Λ system

L. Deng, M. G. Payne, E. W. Hagley

We investigate the propagation dynamics of a two-mode probe field traveling with ultraslow group velocities. We show that a strong cross-beam coupling occurs between the two modes of the probe wave in the presence of a two-mode control laser field that maintains two-photon resonance excitations in a three-level system. In the adiabatic limit and under appropriate conditions, both modes can travel with matched temporal profiles, amplitudes, and greatly reduced group velocities, and one mode can grow and take on features of the other mode. When only one mode of probe field is injected, the generation and growth of the second mode has the characteristics of four-wave mixing, resulting in a tunable, ultraslow four-wave mixing field with nearly 100% photon flux conversion efficiency. We further show a type of induced transparency resulting from an efficient one- and three-photon destructive interference. This is to be contrasted with the conventional one-mode, three-level electromagnetically induced transparency where the interference involves two one-photon pathways.

Physical Review A•Dec 1, 2004•7 citations

Highly efficient four-wave mixing in double- Λ system in ultraslow propagation regime

Ying Wu, Xiaoxue Yang

We perform a time-dependent analysis of four-wave mixing (FWM) in a double-$\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ system in an ultraslow-propagation regime and obtain the analytical expressions of pulsed probe laser, FWM-generated pulse, phase shifts and absorption coefficients, group velocities, and FWM efficiency. With these analytical expressions, we show that an efficiently generated FWM field can acquire the same ultraslow group velocity $({V}_{g}∕c\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}--{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5})$ and pulse shape of a probe pump and that the maximum FWM efficiency is greater than 25%, which is orders of magnitude larger than previous FWM schemes in the ultraslow-propagation regime.

Physical Review A•Nov 18, 2004•442 citations

Two-color ultraslow optical solitons via four-wave mixing in cold-atom media

Ying Wu

We analyze a lifetime-broadened four-state, ladder-type four-wave mixing (FWM) scheme in the context of optical soliton formation. We show that a pulsed probe field and a pulsed FWM field of considerably different frequency can evolve into a pair of matched solitons with the same temporal shape and ultraslow group velocity $({V}_{g}∕c\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3})$, i.e., two-color ultraslow optical solitons. In addition, we show regimes where two-color superluminal $({V}_{g}∕c<0)$ optical soliton propagation may occur.

Physical Review A•May 31, 2005•270 citations

Highly efficient four-wave mixing in a coherent six-level system in ultraslow propagation regime

Hui‐jun Li, Guoxiang Huang

We propose a scheme to obtain a highly efficient four-wave mixing (FWM) in a coherent six-level tripod system by using a double-dark resonance and multiphoton destructive interference induced transparency. We show both analytically and numerically that the optical-wave mixing in such a system with a pump wave and an internally generated FWM wave mediated by electromagnetically induced transparency and hence propagating with matched ultraslow group velocities can result in a significant enhancement of FWM conversion efficiency. This interesting scheme may be used to generate coherent short-wavelength radiation in dense optical media with very low pump-wave intensity.

Physical Review A•Oct 10, 2007•39 citations

Inhibiting the Onset of the Three-Photon Destructive Interference in Ultraslow Propagation-Enhanced Four-Wave Mixing with Dual Induced Transparency

L. Deng, M. Payne

We propose a dual electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) based multiwave mixing scheme that retains the significantly enhanced conversion efficiency enabled by ultraslow propagation of pump waves, yet is also capable of inhibiting and delaying the onset of the detrimental three-photon destructive interference that limits the further growth of the four-wave mixing (FWM) field. We show that the new scheme exhibits a wave-matching condition that is fundamentally different from the conventional FWM without EIT, and the efficient generation of the mixing wave is not critically dependent upon the FWM detuning to achieve constructive interference as required in the conventional FWM. These are significant steps forward in enabling applications of ultraslow wave nonlinear optics.

Physical Review Letters•Dec 10, 2003•61 citations

Consequences of induced transparency in a double-Λ scheme: Destructive interference in four-wave mixing

M. G. Payne, L. Deng

We investigate a four-state system interacting with long and short laser pulses in a weak probe beam approximation. We show that when all lasers are tuned to the exact unperturbed resonances, part of the four-wave mixing (FWM) field is strongly absorbed. The part that is not absorbed has the exact intensity required to destructively interfere with the excitation pathway involved in producing the FWM state. We show that with this three-photon destructive interference, the conversion efficiency can still be as high as 25%. Contrary to common belief, our calculation shows that this process, where an ideal one-photon electromagnetically induced transparency is established, is not most suitable for high-efficiency conversion. With appropriate phase matching and propagation distance, and when the three-photon destructive interference does not occur, we show that the photon flux conversion efficiency is independent of probe intensity and can be close to 100%. In addition, we show clearly that the conversion efficiency is not determined by the maximum atomic coherence between two lower excited states, as commonly believed. It is the combination of phase matching and constructive interference involving the two terms arising in producing the mixing wave that is the key element for the optimized FWM generation. Indeed, in this scheme no appreciable excited state is produced, so that the atomic coherence between states |0〉 and |2〉 is always very small.

arXiv:quant-ph/0203076•Physical Review A•Jun 3, 2002•53 citations
We present a fully time dependent, adiabatic solution, and steady-state analysis for the ultraslow propagation of the nondegenerate four-wave mixing (NDFWM) signal and the weak probe beam in a closely-cycled double-ladder system. Under appropriate (especially power balance) conditions, the two-mode probe and phase-matched NDFWM pulses, after a characteristic propagation length, evolve into a pair of amplitude and group velocity matched pulses. Double transparency for the probe and NDFWM beams can be achieved owing to an efficient one- and three-photon destructive interference involving the NDFWM beam and its back reaction to the probe beam. The forward and backward configurations are investigated in this double-ladder system, and their efficiencies are calculated and compared.
We investigate the propagation dynamics of a two-mode probe field traveling with ultraslow group velocities. We show that a strong cross-beam coupling occurs between the two modes of the probe wave in the presence of a two-mode control laser field that maintains two-photon resonance excitations in a three-level system. In the adiabatic limit and under appropriate conditions, both modes can travel with matched temporal profiles, amplitudes, and greatly reduced group velocities, and one mode can grow and take on features of the other mode. When only one mode of probe field is injected, the generation and growth of the second mode has the characteristics of four-wave mixing, resulting in a tunable, ultraslow four-wave mixing field with nearly 100% photon flux conversion efficiency. We further show a type of induced transparency resulting from an efficient one- and three-photon destructive interference. This is to be contrasted with the conventional one-mode, three-level electromagnetically induced transparency where the interference involves two one-photon pathways.
We perform a time-dependent analysis of four-wave mixing (FWM) in a double-$\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ system in an ultraslow-propagation regime and obtain the analytical expressions of pulsed probe laser, FWM-generated pulse, phase shifts and absorption coefficients, group velocities, and FWM efficiency. With these analytical expressions, we show that an efficiently generated FWM field can acquire the same ultraslow group velocity $({V}_{g}∕c\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}--{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5})$ and pulse shape of a probe pump and that the maximum FWM efficiency is greater than 25%, which is orders of magnitude larger than previous FWM schemes in the ultraslow-propagation regime.
We analyze a lifetime-broadened four-state, ladder-type four-wave mixing (FWM) scheme in the context of optical soliton formation. We show that a pulsed probe field and a pulsed FWM field of considerably different frequency can evolve into a pair of matched solitons with the same temporal shape and ultraslow group velocity $({V}_{g}∕c\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3})$, i.e., two-color ultraslow optical solitons. In addition, we show regimes where two-color superluminal (Vg∕c<0)({V}_{g}∕c<0)(Vg​∕c<0) optical soliton propagation may occur.
We propose a scheme to obtain a highly efficient four-wave mixing (FWM) in a coherent six-level tripod system by using a double-dark resonance and multiphoton destructive interference induced transparency. We show both analytically and numerically that the optical-wave mixing in such a system with a pump wave and an internally generated FWM wave mediated by electromagnetically induced transparency and hence propagating with matched ultraslow group velocities can result in a significant enhancement of FWM conversion efficiency. This interesting scheme may be used to generate coherent short-wavelength radiation in dense optical media with very low pump-wave intensity.
We propose a dual electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) based multiwave mixing scheme that retains the significantly enhanced conversion efficiency enabled by ultraslow propagation of pump waves, yet is also capable of inhibiting and delaying the onset of the detrimental three-photon destructive interference that limits the further growth of the four-wave mixing (FWM) field. We show that the new scheme exhibits a wave-matching condition that is fundamentally different from the conventional FWM without EIT, and the efficient generation of the mixing wave is not critically dependent upon the FWM detuning to achieve constructive interference as required in the conventional FWM. These are significant steps forward in enabling applications of ultraslow wave nonlinear optics.
We investigate a four-state system interacting with long and short laser pulses in a weak probe beam approximation. We show that when all lasers are tuned to the exact unperturbed resonances, part of the four-wave mixing (FWM) field is strongly absorbed. The part that is not absorbed has the exact intensity required to destructively interfere with the excitation pathway involved in producing the FWM state. We show that with this three-photon destructive interference, the conversion efficiency can still be as high as 25%. Contrary to common belief, our calculation shows that this process, where an ideal one-photon electromagnetically induced transparency is established, is not most suitable for high-efficiency conversion. With appropriate phase matching and propagation distance, and when the three-photon destructive interference does not occur, we show that the photon flux conversion efficiency is independent of probe intensity and can be close to 100%. In addition, we show clearly that the conversion efficiency is not determined by the maximum atomic coherence between two lower excited states, as commonly believed. It is the combination of phase matching and constructive interference involving the two terms arising in producing the mixing wave that is the key element for the optimized FWM generation. Indeed, in this scheme no appreciable excited state is produced, so that the atomic coherence between states |0〉 and |2〉 is always very small.