Photonic coherence phenomena in coupled optical resonators

David D. Smith, Hongrok Chang

Quantum coherence effects in atomic media such as electromagnetically-induced transparency and absorption, lasing without inversion, super-radiance and gain-assisted superluminality have become well-known in atomic physics. But these effects are not unique to atoms, nor are they uniquely quantum in nature, but rather are fundamental to systems of coherently coupled oscillators. In this talk I will review a variety of analogous photonic coherence phenomena that can occur in passive and active coupled optical resonators. Specifically, I will examine the evolution of the response that can occur upon the addition of a second resonator, to a single resonator that is side-coupled to a waveguide, as the coupling is increased, and discuss the conditions for slow and fast light propagation, coupled-resonator-induced transparency and absorption, lasing without gain, and gain-assisted superluminal pulse propagation. Finally, I will discuss the application of these systems to laser stabilization and gyroscopy.

Guoyao Li, Wenjie Nie, Xiyun Li +3 more

David D. Smith, Hongrok Chang

We predict a variety of photonic coherence phenomena in passive and active coupled ring resonators. Specifically, the effective dispersive and absorptive steady-state response of coupled resonators is derived, and used to determine the conditions for coupled-resonator-induced transparency and absorption, lasing without gain, and cooperative cavity emission. These effects rely on coherent photon trapping, in direct analogy with coherent population trapping phenomena in atomic systems. We also demonstrate that the coupled-mode equations are formally identical to the two-level atom Schrödinger equation in the rotating-wave approximation, and use this result for the analysis of coupled-resonator photon dynamics. Notably, because these effects are predicted directly from coupled-mode theory, they are not unique to atoms, but rather are fundamental to systems of coherently coupled resonators.

Andrea M. Armani, Rigoberto Castro‐Beltrán, Vinh M. Diep +4 more

高峰 Gao Feng, 叶晨光 Ye Chenguang, 王鹏军 Wang Pengjun +1 more

Ning Lü, P. R. Berman

A theory of photon echoes using double-resonance optical pulses (PEDROP) is presented. Two double-resonance pulses, separated by a time interval T, are used to cause transitions among three states of an atom. Each double-resonance pulse consists of two simultaneously applied laser pulses that drive coupled transitions in the atom. It is shown that for time t > T, six photon echoes are produced (three on each of the coupled transitions) at five distinct times. Moreover, a nonradiating macroscopic coherence is also produced between states of the same parity. With the use of an interrogation pulse to monitor this coherence, three additional photon echoes can be produced on either of the coupled transitions. A Doppler phase diagram is constructed that enables one easily to predict the times and conditions of echo formation. PEDROP combines features of both two-photon and trilevel echoes but offers advantages over these methods for studying relaxation phenomena.