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Quantum-Atom Optics Downunder (QAO)

Enhanced Kerr Nonlinearity at Low Light Intensity

A. M. Akulshin, Andrei I. Sidorov, Russell McLean, Peter Hannaford

Published Jan 1, 2007• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

Both long-lived coherences and coherent population oscillations result in dramatic enhancement of a Kerr nonlinearity in atomic media at very low intensity of resonant light. We demonstrate the possibility of separating the contributions from these effects under certain experimental conditions. We report a study of the nonlinear optical properties of atomic media under a variety of experimental conditions at low light intensity, paying particular attention to self-focussing, diffraction and quasi-degenerate wave mixing.

DOI
10.1364/qao.2007.qwe2

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