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

IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics

Competition and Energy Transfer Between Forward and Backward Four-Wave Mixing via Atomic Coherence

Lin Cheng, Yaling Tian, Yize Liu, Yanpeng Zhang, Kangkang Li, Yang Liu, Ruizhou Liu

Published Mar 2, 2017• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Two four-wave mixing (FWM) processes with different directions and frequencies can coexist and interfere in a four-level inverted-Y-type atomic system, the generated FWM beams fall into two different electromagnetically induced transparency windows. We report Autler-Townes splitting and dressed suppression and enhancement of two generated FWM beams. In the case of matched slow FWM beams, two FWM processes compete and exchange their energies between them, the forward four-wave beam give its energy to the backward four-wave beam by interaction for long distance. Such studies of two FWM beams can have vital applications in studying the higher-order nonlinear optical processes, generating correlated photon pairs and quantum information processing.

DOI
10.1109/jqe.2017.2677378

Related papers

Efficient energy transfer between four-wave-mixing and six-wave-mixing processes via atomic coherence

Yanpeng Zhang, Blake Anderson, Min Xiao

We demonstrate efficient energy exchange during propagation between four-wave-mixing (FWM) and six-wave-mixing (SWM) signals generated in a four-level inverted-Y atomic system, which fall in the electromagnetically induced transparency window. After an initial growth distance for both FWM and SWM fields in the atomic medium, these two nonlinear optical processes compete and exchange energy between them, and eventually reach their respective steady-state values at long interaction distance. This energy exchange phenomenon can be explained by considering established atomic coherences among various atomic states and quantum interferences between three-photon and five-photon excitation pathways. Understanding these high-order nonlinear optical processes and interplays between them can be very important for correlated FWM (or SWM) photon-pair generations and quantum information processing.

Physical Review A•Jun 2, 2008•65 citations

Competition between two four-wave mixing channels via atomic coherence

Yanpeng Zhang, Blake Anderson, Andy W. Brown +1 more

Two four-wave-mixing (FWM) processes can coexist in a four-level Y-type atomic system with carefully arranged coupling laser beams. The generated two FWM signal beams fall into two simultaneously opened dual electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) windows, which can be tuned to overlap or separate by various frequency detunings. The authors report our experimental observation of competing FWM processes, especially mutual suppression of the two FWM signals when the two EIT windows merge in frequency. Controlling FWM processes can have important applications in wavelength conversion for optical communication.

Applied Physics Letters•Aug 6, 2007•36 citations

Evidence of Autler–Townes splitting in high-order nonlinear processes

Yanpeng Zhang, Zhiqiang Nie, Zhiguo Wang +3 more

We demonstrate Autler-Townes (AT) splitting of four-wave mixing in an electromagnetically induced transparency window, which results from the destructive interference between a three-photon process and a five-photon process. The primary and secondary AT splittings are achieved via induced atomic coherence in a four-level Y-type atomic system. Theoretical calculations fit well with the experimentally measured results. Such controlled multichannel splitting of nonlinear optical signals can have potential applications in optical communication and quantum information processing.

Optics Letters•Oct 11, 2010•67 citations

Opening Four-Wave Mixing and Six-Wave Mixing Channels via Dual Electromagnetically Induced Transparency Windows

Yanpeng Zhang, Andy W. Brown, Min Xiao

Highly efficient four-wave mixing (FWM) and six-wave mixing (SWM) processes can coexist in a four-level Y-type atomic system due to atomic coherence. The simultaneously opened dual electromagnetically induced transparency windows in this four-level atomic system allow observation of these two nonlinear optical processes at the same time, which enables detailed studies of the interplay between the FWM and SWM processes. Three-photon and five-photon destructive interferences are also observed.

Physical Review Letters•Sep 18, 2007•340 citations

Interplay among multidressed four-wave mixing processes

Huaibin Zheng, Yanpeng Zhang, Zhiqiang Nie +4 more

We report our experimental studies of interplays between four-wave mixing (FWM) processes in multidressed two- and three-level atomic systems. The Autler–Townes splitting of the FWM signal within the electromagnetically induced transparency window has been experimentally observed. Under the same experimental conditions in different energy-level systems, the dressing effects strongly depend on the dipole moments of the transitions, which can provide an easy and qualitative way to determine the orders of magnitude of the effective dipole moments for different transitions by comparing the FWM suppressing effects.

Applied Physics Letters•Dec 15, 2008•13 citations

Temporal and Spatial Interference between Four-Wave Mixing and Six-Wave Mixing Channels

Yanpeng Zhang, Utsab Khadka, Blake Anderson +1 more

Using phase control between four-wave mixing (FWM) and six-wave mixing (SWM) channels in a four-level atomic system, we demonstrate temporal and spatial interferences between these two nonlinear optical processes. Efficient and coexisting FWM and SWM signals are produced in the same electromagnetically induced transparency window via atomic coherence. The temporal interference has a femtosecond time scale corresponding to the optical transition frequency. Such studies of intermixing between different order nonlinear optical processes with a controllable phase delay can have important applications in high-precision measurements, coherence quantum control, and quantum information processing.

Physical Review Letters•Jan 7, 2009•230 citations
Two four-wave mixing (FWM) processes with different directions and frequencies can coexist and interfere in a four-level inverted-Y-type atomic system, the generated FWM beams fall into two different electromagnetically induced transparency windows. We report Autler-Townes splitting and dressed suppression and enhancement of two generated FWM beams. In the case of matched slow FWM beams, two FWM processes compete and exchange their energies between them, the forward four-wave beam give its energy to the backward four-wave beam by interaction for long distance. Such studies of two FWM beams can have vital applications in studying the higher-order nonlinear optical processes, generating correlated photon pairs and quantum information processing.
We demonstrate efficient energy exchange during propagation between four-wave-mixing (FWM) and six-wave-mixing (SWM) signals generated in a four-level inverted-Y atomic system, which fall in the electromagnetically induced transparency window. After an initial growth distance for both FWM and SWM fields in the atomic medium, these two nonlinear optical processes compete and exchange energy between them, and eventually reach their respective steady-state values at long interaction distance. This energy exchange phenomenon can be explained by considering established atomic coherences among various atomic states and quantum interferences between three-photon and five-photon excitation pathways. Understanding these high-order nonlinear optical processes and interplays between them can be very important for correlated FWM (or SWM) photon-pair generations and quantum information processing.
Two four-wave-mixing (FWM) processes can coexist in a four-level Y-type atomic system with carefully arranged coupling laser beams. The generated two FWM signal beams fall into two simultaneously opened dual electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) windows, which can be tuned to overlap or separate by various frequency detunings. The authors report our experimental observation of competing FWM processes, especially mutual suppression of the two FWM signals when the two EIT windows merge in frequency. Controlling FWM processes can have important applications in wavelength conversion for optical communication.
We demonstrate Autler-Townes (AT) splitting of four-wave mixing in an electromagnetically induced transparency window, which results from the destructive interference between a three-photon process and a five-photon process. The primary and secondary AT splittings are achieved via induced atomic coherence in a four-level Y-type atomic system. Theoretical calculations fit well with the experimentally measured results. Such controlled multichannel splitting of nonlinear optical signals can have potential applications in optical communication and quantum information processing.
We report our experimental studies of interplays between four-wave mixing (FWM) processes in multidressed two- and three-level atomic systems. The Autler–Townes splitting of the FWM signal within the electromagnetically induced transparency window has been experimentally observed. Under the same experimental conditions in different energy-level systems, the dressing effects strongly depend on the dipole moments of the transitions, which can provide an easy and qualitative way to determine the orders of magnitude of the effective dipole moments for different transitions by comparing the FWM suppressing effects.
Using phase control between four-wave mixing (FWM) and six-wave mixing (SWM) channels in a four-level atomic system, we demonstrate temporal and spatial interferences between these two nonlinear optical processes. Efficient and coexisting FWM and SWM signals are produced in the same electromagnetically induced transparency window via atomic coherence. The temporal interference has a femtosecond time scale corresponding to the optical transition frequency. Such studies of intermixing between different order nonlinear optical processes with a controllable phase delay can have important applications in high-precision measurements, coherence quantum control, and quantum information processing.