Probing Atomic Dynamics and Structures Using Optical Patterns

Bonnie L. Schmittberger, Daniel J. Gauthier

We present a detailed study of the dynamics of these bunched atoms during optical pattern formation. We show how small changes in the atomic density distribution affect the symmetry of the generated patterns as well as the nature of the nonlinearity that describes the light-atom interaction. 1 We gratefully acknowledge the nancial support of the National Science Foundation

J. I. Dijkhuis, P. van der Straten

Baldassare Di Bartolo

Muhammad Safeer Sadiq, Haleema Sadia Qureshi, Shakir Ullah +1 more

We demonstrate coherence-controlled azimuthal modulation of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and all-optical switching in a four-level atomic ensemble coupled to a Laguerre-Gaussian beam, a control field, and a microwave field. The spatial EIT patterns exhibit doublet, quartet, and sextuplet structures, evolving into more complex structures with increasing orbital angular momentum (OAM). These structures can be dynamically switched between EIT and absorption patterns, preserving mirror image symmetry (with even OAM) and rotation symmetry (with odd OAM) by adjusting the relative phase of the coupling fields. By creating two-dimensional electromagnetically induced gratings (EIGs), we find that the diffractive patterns are influenced by probe field detuning, OAM, and relative phase. Specifically, the diffraction patterns of a probe field exhibit complex behavior across first to fourth orders, with intensities influenced by topological charge and azimuthal angle. The diffraction patterns are further modulated by the relative phase, with patterns at 0 and π being mirror images of each other, while the pattern at π /2 exhibits distinct behavior. These findings highlight the potential for precise control over structural EIT, all optical switching and diffraction patterns in coherent atomic media.

Gerhard R. Guthöhrlein, Matthias Keller, Wulfhard K. Lange +1 more

Zhaoyang Zhang, Yutong Shen, Shaohuan Ning +5 more

In this Letter, we have investigated experimentally the photonic realization of a moving lattice with an instantaneously tunable transverse velocity in a three-level Λ -type warm 85 R b atomic medium. The dynamic photonic lattice moving along the direction of its spatial periodicity was constructed by introducing a frequency difference (determining the velocity) between two coupling beams, whose interference pattern could optically induce a (spatial) periodic refractive index change inside the atomic vapor under electromagnetically induced transparency. When a Gaussian probe field is launched into this optically induced lattice, the output diffraction patterns can shift along the transverse direction, indicating dynamical features of induced photonic structures. The realization of this effectively controllable moving photonic lattice provides a new platform for guiding the transport of light.