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Optics Express

Novel Rydberg eight-wave mixing process controlled in the nonlinear phase of a circularly polarized field

Junling Che, Zhaoyang Zhang, Ming‐Liang Hu, Xuewei Shi, Yanpeng Zhang

Published Jan 29, 2018• 4 citations

Abstract

Eight-wave mixing (EWM) is a seven-order nonlinear process that can reflect nonclassical features within multiple optical fields, thus imparting certain advantages. In this study, we directly observed the EWM spectrum and spatial images that show Rydberg atoms under a circularly polarized probe field in a five-level coherently prepared atomic system. Such circular polarization dressing fields can obtain high-contrast Rydberg EWM overcome the difficulties of several multi-wave mixing (MWM) signals always coexist, and the multi-parameter controlling Rydberg EWM mechanism is established by changing the power and detuning and polarization of the dressing fields. These controllable high-order MWM processes present a contrast ratio of 96% and a narrow linewidth of <30 MHz compared with low-order mixing processes under identical conditions (e.g., six-wave mixing). The corresponding MWM spatial images are presented, and they can partly reflect the underlying nonlinear phase variation, whereas the given theory can predict the experimental results.

DOI: 10.1364/oe.26.003054

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Rb vapor both theoretically and experimentally. By use of a disturbance-free optical detection method, the Rydberg EWM characterized by multiple sets of spin coherence is presented via the interplay and competition between the dressing-state effects and excitation blockade caused by strong Rydberg-Rydberg interaction. Such interplay and competition can be demonstrated by the intensity evolutions of multi-wave mixing (MWM) signals via controlling the atomic density, the frequency detuning and Rabi frequencies of corresponding laser fields. The observed Rydberg EWM tailored by EIT windows can possess of much narrower linewidth <30MHz and provide a new way for the study of Rydberg effect in the atomic ensemble above room temperature.

Two doubly dressing (parallel and nested processes) schemes are considered which generate co-existing four-wave mixing (FWM), six-wave mixing (SWM) and eight-wave mixing (EWM) processes in an open five-level atomic system. The coherent interaction between two dressing processes in nested type is much stronger than that in parallel type. The singly enhanced SWM and dually enhanced FWM channels can be opened at the same time. Such dramatic enhancements in high-order nonlinear optical processes result from the constructive interactions of double dark resonances. The giant third-, fifth- and seventh-order nonlinear responses with different signs can be obtained by using the coherent phase controls of the polarization beats between the FWM, SWM and EWM signals.

Rydberg-dressed four-wave mixing (FWM) is theoretically and experimentally demonstrated with two electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) windows generated in a Y-type Rb85 atomic configuration. Such dressing effect related to Rydberg states can lead to enhancement and suppression in the FWM process, which can be manipulated by the frequency detuning, Rabi frequency, and polarization of laser fields. Particularly, with the enhancement condition satisfied, coexisting FWM and Rydberg six-wave mixing (SWM) peaks with ultranarrow linewidth (much less than 30 MHz) are simultaneously observed. The controllable enhancement and suppression in a Rydberg-EIT medium can provide a novel nondestructive nonlinear method to investigate the spectrum involving Rydberg excitation in the atomic ensemble above room temperature.

We study the co-existence of multi-wave mixing processes in an open five-level atomic system affected by strong coupling fields. Competition among four-wave mixing （FWM） with two dressing fields, the six-wave mixing （SWM） with one dressing field as well as the eight-wave mixing （EWM） propagating along the same direction can be evoked by adjusting laser beams because these multi-wave mixing signals are induced by atomic coherence between common levels. With the dressing fields properly controlled, the FWM and SWM signals can be suppressed while the EWM signals enhanced in the beam. We also amply analyze the difference between the parallel-cascade and sequentical-cascade doubly dressing mechanisms in doubly-dressed four-wave mixing （DDFWM） processes.

We experimentally and theoretically investigate the Rydberg six-wave mixing (SWM) process in 85 Rb atomic vapor. Through comparing the center frequency positions of resonant Rydberg SWM signals with different atomic densities, atomic levels induced by van der Waals interaction are observed. Meanwhile, such SWM process which is sensitive to blockade can be modulated by the self-dressing effect and/or external dressing effect. In addition, the Rydberg eight-wave mixing process can be obtained if the power of the external dressing field is low. Such blockaded multi-wave mixing process has potential applications in multi-channel quantum information.