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OSA Continuum

Propagation dynamics of finite-energy Airy beams in nonlocal nonlinear atomic vapor

Dajin Luo, Shuyun Hu, Huajie Hu, Dong Wei, Haixia Chen, Hong Gao, Fuli Li

Published Mar 19, 2019• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

We investigate the propagation properties of finite-energy Airy beams in nonlocal nonlinear atomic vapor. The nonlocality is caused by the transportation of optically excited atoms and described with a Green function. By conducting numerical simulation on Airy beams in the case of one-dimension, two-dimensions, and ring geometry, respectively, we find that the beams have a more stable shape and a longer propagation distance in the presence of nonlocality. The results show that the nonlocality can slow down the beams’ distortion induced by the self-focusing effect and contributes to a more stable propagation of Airy beams in the nonlinear media.

DOI
10.1364/osac.2.001365

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We investigate the propagation properties of finite-energy Airy beams in nonlocal nonlinear atomic vapor. The nonlocality is caused by the transportation of optically excited atoms and described with a Green function. By conducting numerical simulation on Airy beams in the case of one-dimension, two-dimensions, and ring geometry, respectively, we find that the beams have a more stable shape and a longer propagation distance in the presence of nonlocality. The results show that the nonlocality can slow down the beams’ distortion induced by the self-focusing effect and contributes to a more stable propagation of Airy beams in the nonlinear media.
Abstract We demonstrate the existence and curious propagation dynamics of self-accelerating beams in Λ-type three-level nonlinear atomic vapors with Kerr and cubic-quintic nonlinearities through numerical investigation and mathematical modelling. Upon adjusting the generation and propagation conditions, these nonlinear accelerating beams exhibit different evolution properties. We demonstrate that the input beams can propagate robustly in the medium regardless of its absorption properties. The shape and peak intensity of the main lobes of these input beams, which are the eigenmodes of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) in atomic media, are preserved for a significantly long propagation distance. If such beams are not the modes of the system, they are subjected to the under-healing or over-healing effect, which damages the shape of the self-accelerating beams. We also discuss the interactions between truncated accelerating beams, which readily generate non-accelerating solitons and soliton pairs. The results indicate that the atomic vapor can serve as a promising medium for the generation of nonlinear self-accelerating beams.
We numerically investigate the dynamics of inward circular finite-energy Airy beams carrying different orbital angular momentum (OAM) numbers in a close-Λ three-level atomic vapor with the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) window. We report that due to the EIT induced by the microwave field, the transverse intensity distribution properties of Airy beam can be feasibly manipulated and modulated through adjusting OAM numbers l and the frequency detuning, as well as the propagation distance, in the multi-level atomic systems. What’s more, the rotation of the beam also can be observed with different positions in atomic ensembles. The investigation may provide a useful tool for studying particle manipulation, signal processing and propagation in graded-index (GRIN) fibers.
In a numerical investigation, we demonstrate the evolution of a one-dimensional and two-dimensional finite energy Airy beam in a Λ-type three-level atomic vapor with linear, cubic, and quintic susceptibilities considered simultaneously with the dressing effect. Quasi-solitons and soliton pairs are observed due to this competition mechanism. We find that the frequency detuning of the pump field and its power greatly affect the formation and evolution of generated solitons. In general, around the two-photon resonance point and for low intensities of the pump field, it is less difficult to form solitons. This investigation enriches the study of the propagation properties of Airy beams and soliton generation in atomic vapor.
We demonstrate a scheme to measure the saturable nonlinearity of atomic vapor by mapping its nonlinear response function onto a light beam profile. Our analysis shows that a part of a nonlinear optical solution solved in a model governing the nonlinear beam dynamics in atomic vapor can be used to perform this measurement, even in the presence of large absorption. A desired beam profile is achieved by an evolution of a well-known structured beam, namely the Airy beam. Using this simple yet effective method, we retrieve the saturable nonlinear response function of rubidium (Rb) atomic vapor in experiment, and employ it in light propagation simulation that reproduces well observed nonlinear dynamics, which nevertheless cannot be fitted in a strong nonlinear regime with an ideal Kerr approximation. Our method is applicable to a broad spectrum of materials featured with saturable nonlinearities.
Optical pumping of atomic vapors can lead to self-focusing of resonant laser beams. The saturation of the optical pumping process at low intensity allows the study of transverse solitons in the form of self-trapped laser beams, using low-power cw lasers. The long lifetime of the optically pumped atoms allows the atomic diffusion to transport the excitation away from the interaction region. Numerical simulations show that the resulting nonlocal response of the medium represents an important mechanism that stabilizes the self-trapped beam. The theoretical predictions are confirmed by experimental results from sodium vapor.