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

Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference

Nonlinear optics and quantum entanglement of ultra-slow photons

Mikhail D. Lukin, Ataç İmamoğlu

Published May 12, 2000• 4 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

Summary form only given. Exciting observations of ultra-slow group velocities and very large nonlinearities in coherently driven atomic media open up interesting prospectives for nonlinear optical processes at low light levels. Recent experiments, for instance, demonstrated that very efficient nonlinear phenomena can be induced by laser fields of tiny energies. These developments stimulate the studies of ultimate efficiency limits for nonlinear optics based on electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) as well as its possible applications for generation and manipulation of quantum entangled states of the light fields and matter. We describe a particular method that allows for two slow light fields of energies corresponding to that of a single photon to interact coherently.

Related papers

Nonlinear Optics and Quantum Entanglement of Ultraslow Single Photons

Mikhail D. Lukin, Ataç İmamoğlu

Two light pulses propagating with slow group velocities in a coherently prepared atomic gas exhibit dissipation-free nonlinear coupling of an unprecedented strength. This enables a single-photon pulse to coherently control or manipulate the quantum state of the other. Processes of this kind result in generation of entangled states of radiation field and open up new prospectives for quantum information processing.

arXiv:quant-ph/9910094•Physical Review Letters•Feb 14, 2000•619 citations

Electromagnetically induced transparency: Optics in coherent media

Michael Fleischhauer, Ataç İmamoğlu, J. P. Marangos

Coherent preparation by laser light of quantum states of atoms and molecules can lead to quantum interference in the amplitudes of optical transitions. In this way the optical properties of a medium can be dramatically modified, leading to electromagnetically induced transparency and related effects, which have placed gas-phase systems at the center of recent advances in the development of media with radically new optical properties. This article reviews these advances and the new possibilities they offer for nonlinear optics and quantum information science. As a basis for the theory of electromagnetically induced transparency the authors consider the atomic dynamics and the optical response of the medium to a continuous-wave laser. They then discuss pulse propagation and the adiabatic evolution of field-coupled states and show how coherently prepared media can be used to improve frequency conversion in nonlinear optical mixing experiments. The extension of these concepts to very weak optical fields in the few-photon limit is then examined. The review concludes with a discussion of future prospects and potential new applications.

Reviews of Modern Physics•Jul 12, 2005•5,187 citations

Nonlinear optics at the single-photon level

Amir Feizpour

In this thesis I report the first experimental observation of an interaction between a postselected single photon and an electromagnetic field containing a few thousand photons.This is the first observation of the nonlinear interactions due to a single freely propagatingphoton. To achieve this pioneering result, we have theoretically and experimentally studied nonlinear optics at the few-photon level. To the best of our knowledge, the pulse energy levels used for our experiments are the lowest energies used for cross-phase modulation in free space.Photon-photon interaction is vanishingly weak; the strength of this interaction can be enhanced in the presence of a material medium as mediator. In our experiment, we use an atomic coherence effect, namely Electromagnetically-induced Transparency (EIT), to produce a `giant' nonlinear interaction between two optical fields. We have observed a nonlinear phase shift of 18 ± 4 µrad per freely propagating single photon. This is done by sending very weak coherent state pulses into the medium and subsequently detecting single photons, inferring the existence of a photon in the interaction region.The optical setup, electronics and software that have been developed during the completion of this thesis provide the basis for several exciting future light-matter interaction experiments. We have produced phase-stable laser beams to create EIT in our cold Rubidium sample prepared in a Magneto-optical Trap (MOT). The laser system and the improved MOT setup have been built to be stable so that we can do very long data acquisition runs. We also have develop ed to ols and software with high precision and stability such that we can measure phase shifts down to micro-radian level.

•Mar 1, 2015•1 citation

Nonlinear entangled states using slow light phenomenon

S. A. Moiseev, Byoung Seung HAM

We have studied quantum entanglement generation using nonlinear interaction of slowly propagating quantum field in a solid medium. Due to enhanced nonlinearity based on electromagnetically induced transparency and standing light phenomenon, a reversible nondegenerate four-wave mixing processing results in quantum entanglement generation. Our attention is to determine nonlinear perspectives of the entanglement with single photon fields. To accomplish the quantum entanglement based on the slow light involved standing light scheme, non-Doppler broadening has been required, where multiple atomic coherences have been the basis in a time-reversed manner. This study is potential for nonlinear optics application to quantum information science such as quantum computing and quantum memories using macroscopic optical medium.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Aug 18, 2005•0 citations

Light Controlling Light with Enhanced Kerr Nonlinearity

Min Xiao, Hai Wang, David J. Goorskey

The Kerr nonlinear index of refraction of a three-level atomic medium can be greatly enhanced by atomic coherence induced by two laser beams. Such electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) media can be used to generate efficient nonlinear optical processes at low light intensities. Control and enhancement of Kerr nonlinearity in EIT media can be useful in all-optical communication, all-optical computing, and quantum information processing.

Optics and Photonics News•Sep 1, 2002•16 citations

Two-photon absorption and imaging at low-light levels

D. Manuszak, G. Y. Yin, Stephen E. Harris

Summary form only given. The recent observation of slow light propagation by Harris and Hau (1999) motivates the study of nonlinear optical processes under conditions where slow group velocity, or equivalently large nonlinearity, is the dominant feature of the problem. By combining electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and cold atom technology, a sharp resonance is created with a transmission linewidth much less than the natural linewidth of the atoms. A pulse of light propagating in this medium has a phase velocity of c and a group velocity that can be less than 10/sup -7/ c. As a light pulse of sufficiently wide bandwidth enters a cold-atom, EIT medium, the pulse shape, electric field strength, and power density remain nominally unchanged. Concurrently, because the group velocity is decreased, the stored energy per volume must increase. This increase occurs by spatial compression of the travelling pulse. A pulse measuring 300 m in free space compresses to 30 /spl mu/m within the cold-atom medium.

Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference•Jan 1, 2000•0 citations
Summary form only given. Exciting observations of ultra-slow group velocities and very large nonlinearities in coherently driven atomic media open up interesting prospectives for nonlinear optical processes at low light levels. Recent experiments, for instance, demonstrated that very efficient nonlinear phenomena can be induced by laser fields of tiny energies. These developments stimulate the studies of ultimate efficiency limits for nonlinear optics based on electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) as well as its possible applications for generation and manipulation of quantum entangled states of the light fields and matter. We describe a particular method that allows for two slow light fields of energies corresponding to that of a single photon to interact coherently.
Coherent preparation by laser light of quantum states of atoms and molecules can lead to quantum interference in the amplitudes of optical transitions. In this way the optical properties of a medium can be dramatically modified, leading to electromagnetically induced transparency and related effects, which have placed gas-phase systems at the center of recent advances in the development of media with radically new optical properties. This article reviews these advances and the new possibilities they offer for nonlinear optics and quantum information science. As a basis for the theory of electromagnetically induced transparency the authors consider the atomic dynamics and the optical response of the medium to a continuous-wave laser. They then discuss pulse propagation and the adiabatic evolution of field-coupled states and show how coherently prepared media can be used to improve frequency conversion in nonlinear optical mixing experiments. The extension of these concepts to very weak optical fields in the few-photon limit is then examined. The review concludes with a discussion of future prospects and potential new applications.
In this thesis I report the first experimental observation of an interaction between a postselected single photon and an electromagnetic field containing a few thousand photons.This is the first observation of the nonlinear interactions due to a single freely propagatingphoton. To achieve this pioneering result, we have theoretically and experimentally studied nonlinear optics at the few-photon level. To the best of our knowledge, the pulse energy levels used for our experiments are the lowest energies used for cross-phase modulation in free space.Photon-photon interaction is vanishingly weak; the strength of this interaction can be enhanced in the presence of a material medium as mediator. In our experiment, we use an atomic coherence effect, namely Electromagnetically-induced Transparency (EIT), to produce a `giant' nonlinear interaction between two optical fields. We have observed a nonlinear phase shift of 18 ± 4 µrad per freely propagating single photon. This is done by sending very weak coherent state pulses into the medium and subsequently detecting single photons, inferring the existence of a photon in the interaction region.The optical setup, electronics and software that have been developed during the completion of this thesis provide the basis for several exciting future light-matter interaction experiments. We have produced phase-stable laser beams to create EIT in our cold Rubidium sample prepared in a Magneto-optical Trap (MOT). The laser system and the improved MOT setup have been built to be stable so that we can do very long data acquisition runs. We also have develop ed to ols and software with high precision and stability such that we can measure phase shifts down to micro-radian level.
We have studied quantum entanglement generation using nonlinear interaction of slowly propagating quantum field in a solid medium. Due to enhanced nonlinearity based on electromagnetically induced transparency and standing light phenomenon, a reversible nondegenerate four-wave mixing processing results in quantum entanglement generation. Our attention is to determine nonlinear perspectives of the entanglement with single photon fields. To accomplish the quantum entanglement based on the slow light involved standing light scheme, non-Doppler broadening has been required, where multiple atomic coherences have been the basis in a time-reversed manner. This study is potential for nonlinear optics application to quantum information science such as quantum computing and quantum memories using macroscopic optical medium.
Summary form only given. The recent observation of slow light propagation by Harris and Hau (1999) motivates the study of nonlinear optical processes under conditions where slow group velocity, or equivalently large nonlinearity, is the dominant feature of the problem. By combining electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and cold atom technology, a sharp resonance is created with a transmission linewidth much less than the natural linewidth of the atoms. A pulse of light propagating in this medium has a phase velocity of c and a group velocity that can be less than 10/sup -7/ c. As a light pulse of sufficiently wide bandwidth enters a cold-atom, EIT medium, the pulse shape, electric field strength, and power density remain nominally unchanged. Concurrently, because the group velocity is decreased, the stored energy per volume must increase. This increase occurs by spatial compression of the travelling pulse. A pulse measuring 300 m in free space compresses to 30 /spl mu/m within the cold-atom medium.