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 Photonic Devices

Tunable light superfluids using 4-level quantum atomic optical systems

Ariel Guerreiro, José C. S. Costa, Nuno A. Silva, T. D. Ferrerira, M. Gomes, Rúben Azinheira Alves

Published Aug 29, 2017• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The realization of tabletop optical analogue experiments of superfluidity relies on the engineering of suitable optical media, with tailored optical properties. This work shows how quantum atomic optical systems can be used to develop highly tunable optical media, with localized control of both linear and nonlinear susceptibility. Introducing the hydrodynamic description of light, the superfluidity of light in these atomic media is investigated through GPU-enhanced numerical simulations, with the numeric observation of the superfluidic signature of suppressed scattering through a defect

DOI
10.1117/12.2276241

Related papers

Tunable light fluids using quantum atomic optical systems

Nuno A. Silva, João C. Costa, Miguel Gomes +3 more

The realization of tabletop optical analogue experiments of superfluidity relies on the engineering of suitable optical media, with tailored optical properties. This work shows how quantum atomic optical systems can be used to develop highly tunable optical media, with localized control of both linear and nonlinear susceptibility. Introducing the hydrodynamic description of light, the superfluidity of light in these atomic media is investigated through GPU-enhanced numerical simulations, with the numeric observation of the superfluidic signature of suppressed scattering through a defect.

International Conference on Applications of Optics and Photonics•Aug 22, 2017•1 citation

Fluids of light in atomic systems: from superfluidity to quantum simulations

Nuno A. Silva, Tiago D. Ferreira, Ariel Guerreiro

As quantum-driven processes and properties start to shape the future of technology, quantum simulations appear as a crucial piece of the puzzle, acting both as building blocks and catalysts for the improvement of the understanding of unique quantum features. In essence, they can be understood as a class of prototype experiments that allow a study of quantum properties in a controllable environment. In this context, quantum fluids of light are one of the strongest candidates for this role as coherent behavior is easily accessible and not hidden by detrimental thermal noise usually present in more common quantum systems. In this work we explore the underlying theory of quantum fluids of light in propagating geometries through the hydrodynamic interpretation of light, where photons behave as interacting particles in the presence of a nonlinear medium. Exploiting the highly controllable optical properties of atomic systems and their enhanced nonlinear properties related to quantum coherence phenomena, we discuss how they can be used to set a tunable platform for quantum simulations. As examples, we demonstrate a series of quantum features of this light fluid in the form of super fluidic-like behaviors, ranging from the more common and experimentally confirmed suppressed scattering, drag-force cancellation and Bogoliubov-like dispersion relation for the elementary excitations, to other interesting phenomena yet to be explored, such as the case of persistent currents.

International Conference on Applications of Optics and Photonics•Oct 3, 2019•0 citations

Paraxial quantum fluids light in hot atomic vapors

Murad Abuzarli, Tangui Aladjidi, Nicolas Cherroret +1 more

Hot atomic vapors are widely used in non-linear and quantum optics due to their large Kerr non-linearity. This non-linearity induces effective photon-photon interactions allowing light to behave as a fluid displaying quantum properties such as superfluidity. In this presentation, I will show that we have full control over the Hamiltonian that drives the system and that we can engineer an analogue simulator with light.

EPJ Web of Conferences•Jan 1, 2022•0 citations

Ultracold atoms in optical lattices: tunable quantum many-body systems

Walter Hofstetter

Cold atoms in optical lattices offer an exciting new laboratory where quantum many-body phenomena can be realized in a highly controlled way. They can even serve as quantum simulators for notoriously difficult problems like high-temperature superconductivity. This review is focussed on the recent developments and new results in multi-component systems. Fermionic atoms with SU(N) symmetry have exotic superfluid and flavor-ordered ground states. We discuss symmetry breaking, collective modes, and detection issues, e.g. in Bragg scattering. On the other hand, bosonic multiflavor ensembles allow for engineering of spin Hamiltonians which are interesting from a quantum computation point of view. Finally, we address the role of disorder in optical lattices. Fermionic atoms experience Anderson localization at sufficiently strong disorder. Interactions among the atoms induce a competing tendency towards delocalization. We present a complete phase diagram obtained within dynamical mean-field theory and discuss experimental observability of the Mott and Anderson phases.

The Philosophical Magazine A Journal of Theoretical Experimental and Applied Physics•Mar 10, 2006•16 citations

Persistent currents of superfluidic light in a four-level coherent atomic medium

Nuno A. Silva, José Tito Mendonça, Ariel Guerreiro

In this work, we investigate the superfluidic properties of light propagating in a four-level coherent atomic medium. The model is derived under the paraxial approximation in the form of a generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation and features spatially controllable and quantum-enhanced optical properties, which can offer new possibilities in the field of optical analogue systems. In particular, we use this versatility to study the dynamics of an optical vortex beam confined in a nontrivial connected geometry, finding numerical evidence of another superfluidic signature analogue: the persistent current of light.

Journal of the Optical Society of America B•Sep 25, 2017•24 citations

Paraxial fluid of light in hot atomic vapors

Quentin Fontaine

Quantum fluids of light are the photonic counterpart of Bose gases. They currently attract increasing interest since they are versatile and highly tunable systems for probing many-body physics quantum phenomena, such as superfluidity. Superfluid flow of light has already been reported in microcavity exciton-polariton condensates but clear observation of this phenomenon in cavityless systems, that is, for propagating photon fluids, remains elusive. In this thesis, we study the hydrodynamical properties of light propagating close to resonance in hot rubidium vapors. Whereas photons in air are not interacting with each other, the situation is different in rubidium vapors, as an effective interaction between them, mediated by the atomic ensemble, appears. The light behaves therefore as a fluid flowing in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis. The primary purpose of this thesis was to show that light in those systems can behave as a superfluid. The first step toward the observation of superfluidity is to measure the dispersion relation of small amplitude density waves travelling onto the propagating photon fluid. I show that this dispersion exhibits a linear trend for small excitation wave-vectors, which is, according to the Landau criterion, a sufficient condition for guaranteeing superfluidity. I present then an all-optical defect experiment - where the photon fluid flows against an optically induced obstacle (namely, a local change of refractive index) - designed to measure the drag force cancellation at the fluid/superfluid threshold.

arXiv:2011.12126•Nov 24, 2020•0 citations
The realization of tabletop optical analogue experiments of superfluidity relies on the engineering of suitable optical media, with tailored optical properties. This work shows how quantum atomic optical systems can be used to develop highly tunable optical media, with localized control of both linear and nonlinear susceptibility. Introducing the hydrodynamic description of light, the superfluidity of light in these atomic media is investigated through GPU-enhanced numerical simulations, with the numeric observation of the superfluidic signature of suppressed scattering through a defect
The realization of tabletop optical analogue experiments of superfluidity relies on the engineering of suitable optical media, with tailored optical properties. This work shows how quantum atomic optical systems can be used to develop highly tunable optical media, with localized control of both linear and nonlinear susceptibility. Introducing the hydrodynamic description of light, the superfluidity of light in these atomic media is investigated through GPU-enhanced numerical simulations, with the numeric observation of the superfluidic signature of suppressed scattering through a defect.
As quantum-driven processes and properties start to shape the future of technology, quantum simulations appear as a crucial piece of the puzzle, acting both as building blocks and catalysts for the improvement of the understanding of unique quantum features. In essence, they can be understood as a class of prototype experiments that allow a study of quantum properties in a controllable environment. In this context, quantum fluids of light are one of the strongest candidates for this role as coherent behavior is easily accessible and not hidden by detrimental thermal noise usually present in more common quantum systems. In this work we explore the underlying theory of quantum fluids of light in propagating geometries through the hydrodynamic interpretation of light, where photons behave as interacting particles in the presence of a nonlinear medium. Exploiting the highly controllable optical properties of atomic systems and their enhanced nonlinear properties related to quantum coherence phenomena, we discuss how they can be used to set a tunable platform for quantum simulations. As examples, we demonstrate a series of quantum features of this light fluid in the form of super fluidic-like behaviors, ranging from the more common and experimentally confirmed suppressed scattering, drag-force cancellation and Bogoliubov-like dispersion relation for the elementary excitations, to other interesting phenomena yet to be explored, such as the case of persistent currents.
Cold atoms in optical lattices offer an exciting new laboratory where quantum many-body phenomena can be realized in a highly controlled way. They can even serve as quantum simulators for notoriously difficult problems like high-temperature superconductivity. This review is focussed on the recent developments and new results in multi-component systems. Fermionic atoms with SU(N) symmetry have exotic superfluid and flavor-ordered ground states. We discuss symmetry breaking, collective modes, and detection issues, e.g. in Bragg scattering. On the other hand, bosonic multiflavor ensembles allow for engineering of spin Hamiltonians which are interesting from a quantum computation point of view. Finally, we address the role of disorder in optical lattices. Fermionic atoms experience Anderson localization at sufficiently strong disorder. Interactions among the atoms induce a competing tendency towards delocalization. We present a complete phase diagram obtained within dynamical mean-field theory and discuss experimental observability of the Mott and Anderson phases.
In this work, we investigate the superfluidic properties of light propagating in a four-level coherent atomic medium. The model is derived under the paraxial approximation in the form of a generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation and features spatially controllable and quantum-enhanced optical properties, which can offer new possibilities in the field of optical analogue systems. In particular, we use this versatility to study the dynamics of an optical vortex beam confined in a nontrivial connected geometry, finding numerical evidence of another superfluidic signature analogue: the persistent current of light.
Quantum fluids of light are the photonic counterpart of Bose gases. They currently attract increasing interest since they are versatile and highly tunable systems for probing many-body physics quantum phenomena, such as superfluidity. Superfluid flow of light has already been reported in microcavity exciton-polariton condensates but clear observation of this phenomenon in cavityless systems, that is, for propagating photon fluids, remains elusive. In this thesis, we study the hydrodynamical properties of light propagating close to resonance in hot rubidium vapors. Whereas photons in air are not interacting with each other, the situation is different in rubidium vapors, as an effective interaction between them, mediated by the atomic ensemble, appears. The light behaves therefore as a fluid flowing in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis. The primary purpose of this thesis was to show that light in those systems can behave as a superfluid. The first step toward the observation of superfluidity is to measure the dispersion relation of small amplitude density waves travelling onto the propagating photon fluid. I show that this dispersion exhibits a linear trend for small excitation wave-vectors, which is, according to the Landau criterion, a sufficient condition for guaranteeing superfluidity. I present then an all-optical defect experiment - where the photon fluid flows against an optically induced obstacle (namely, a local change of refractive index) - designed to measure the drag force cancellation at the fluid/superfluid threshold.