Coherent control of light-matter interactions in standing waves

Hui Deng

Le Gouët

F. Al-dolaimy, Mazin Hadi Kzar, Nawfal Y. Jamil +7 more

Abstract In this paper, we delve into the intricate interplay between optical fields with varying relative phases in a closed-loop configuration semiconductor quantum well waveguide with four distinct energy levels, and how it impacts the Fraunhofer diffraction patterns obtained via four-wave mixing. By harnessing a strong control field, a standing wave driving field, and two weak probe and signal fields, we drive the waveguide to generate these patterns with maximum efficiency. To achieve this, we consider three distinct light-matter interaction scenarios, where the system is first set up in either a lower electromagnetically induced transparency or a coherent population trapping state, followed by a final state that enables electron spin coherence (ESC) induction. Our results reveal that the efficiency of Fraunhofer diffraction in the quantum well waveguide can be enhanced significantly under specific parameter regimes via the spin coherence effect. Further investigation of the light-matter interaction in the ESC zone, where only one of the control fields is a standing wave field, demonstrates that spin coherence facilitates more efficient transfer of energy from the probe light to the third and fourth orders, highlighting its crucial role in shaping the diffraction patterns.

Jean-Louis Le Gouët

Roland Abfalterer, Stefan Bernet, Claudia Keller +3 more

Atoms interacting with standing light waves are a model system for the propagation of waves in static and time varying periodic media. We present here experiments studying the coherent motion of atomic deBroglie waves in periodic potentials made from on and off resonant light. We observe anomalous transmission of atoms through resonant standing light waves and experimentally confirm that atoms fulfilling the Bragg condition form a standing matter wave pattern. We furthermore demonstrate how Bragg diffraction of atomic matter waves at a time-modulated thick standing light wave can be used to coherently shift the deBroglie frequency of the diffracted atoms. Our frequency shifter for atomic matter waves is similar to an acousto-optic frequency shifter for photons.

Jin‐Hui Wu, Giuseppe Carlo La Rocca, M. Artoni +2 more

Controlling quantum coherence in light‐matter interaction is a key step for advanced ultra‐fast and quantum information technology. We theoretically consider a scheme to realize all‐optically induced photonic band gaps based on a standing wave electromagnetically induced transparency configuration which can be implemented with nitrogen‐vacancy color centers in diamond. For realistic material parameters the resulting band‐gap may be tuned via the coupling field to acquire reflectivities very close to unity and sufficiently large bandwidths.