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Wiley eBooks

Fundamentals of nonlinear optics of atomic gases

Nikolai B. Delone, В. П. Крайнов

Published Jan 1, 1988• 51 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

Linear Optics of Atomic Gases Nonlinear Interaction of Light and Atoms Nonlinear-Optics Phenomena in Atomic Gases Conclusion.

Related papers

Foreword

G. Grynberg, Alain Aspect, Claude Fabre +1 more

Atomic, molecular and optical physics is a field which, during the last few decades, has known spectacular developments in various directions, like nonlinear optics, laser cooling and trapping, quantum degenerate gases, quantum information. Atom–photon interactions play an essential role in these developments. This book presents an introduction to quantum optics which, I am sure, will provide an invaluable help to the students, researchers and engineers who are beginning to work in these fields and who want to become familiar with the basic concepts underlying electromagnetic interactions. Most books dealing with these subjects follow either a semi-classical approach, where the field is treated as a classical field interacting with quantum particles, or a full quantum approach where both systems are quantized. The first approach is often oversimplified and fails to describe correctly new situations that can now be investigated with the development of sophisticated experimental techniques. The second approach is often too difficult for beginners and lacks simple physical pictures, very useful for an initial understanding of a physical phenomenon. The advantage of this book is that it gives both approaches, starting with the first, illustrated by several simple examples, and introducing progressively the second, clearly showing why it is essential for the understanding of certain phenomena. The authors also clearly demonstrate, in the case of non-linear optics and laser cooling, how advantageous it may be to combine both approaches in the analysis of an experimental situation and how one can get from each point of view useful, complementary physical insights.

Cambridge University Press eBooks•Sep 2, 2010•0 citations

Optical nonlinearity in a strongly interacting Rydberg atom ensemble

Lu Qin, Zeyun Shi, Xingdong Zhao +3 more

Abstract Rydberg atoms, characterized by their giant polarizability and strong long-range interactions, provide an ideal platform for exploring optical nonlinearities. By coupling light to ensembles of Rydberg atoms, one can map the strong and nonlocal interactions between Rydberg atoms and light fields. A particularly important scheme for realizing such nonlinearity is electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). This article presents a review of the research progress in nonlinear optics based on Rydberg-EIT systems, particularly nonlinear light propagation in Rydberg atomic gases. We first introduce the fundamental properties of Rydberg atoms and the physical mechanism of EIT-enhanced nonlinearity, emphasizing how the Rydberg blockade effect endows the system with a giant nonlocal Kerr nonlinearity. Subsequently, we discuss some typical nonlinear optical phenomena in such a system with focusing and defocusing nonlocal nonlinearities. In the focusing regime, we discuss spatial solitons, vortex solitons, soliton cloning, soliton molecules, optical bullets, and self-induced transparency solitons. Other topics are also discussed. In the defocusing regime, we analyze pattern formation and shock wave dynamics. Finally, we provide an outlook on the future development of this field toward quantum control, hybrid-system integration, and novel functional devices.

arXiv:2608.15072•Chinese Physics B•Aug 17, 2026•0 citations

Nonlinear atom optics: Recent results and prospects

Pierre Meystre

We briefly review some recent results in nonlinear atom optics, and discuss its potential for future developments and applications.

Laser Physics•Jan 1, 2002•26 citations

Non-Linear Atom Optics With Bose-Einstein Condensates

Kristian Helmerson

'Non-Linear Atom Optics With Bose-Einstein Condensates' published in 'Bose-Einstein Condensates and Atom Lasers'

Kluwer Academic Publishers eBooks•Dec 11, 2005•0 citations

Bosons and Fermions in dynamic optical lattices

Gordon R. M. Robb, P. Johnston, W. J. Firth

Collective scattering of light due to atomic recoil, also known as collective atomic recoil lasing (CARL), occurs when a gas of atoms coherently scatters light from a pump laser via a collective instability. The scattering process can become unstable due to the atoms in the gas recoiling under the influence of the dynamic optical forces which arise due to the interference of the pump and scattered fields. The atoms move to form a spatially periodic density grating, which in turn amplifies the scattered field. This paper presents a theoretical analysis of CARL phenomena in degenerate ultracold gases of bosons and fermions. In the case of bosons i.e. in a Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC),the effect of atom-atom interactions due to collisions on the CARL instability in the case of both attractive and repulsive condensates, is investigated. In the case of fermionic gases, the effect of Fermi pressure, is also presented. The linear and nonlinear evolution of the optical field and the atomic momentum distribution are considered for both cases.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)•Jun 1, 2009•0 citations

Nonlinear Spin–Orbit Interaction of Light in a Cold Rydberg Atom Medium

Lu Qin, Chao Hang, Weibin Li +1 more

Abstract We demonstrate that a nonlinear spin–orbit interaction (SOI) emerges in cold Rydberg atomic gases, where the orbital characteristics (spatial structure) of light fields become coupled to their polarization (spin). This SOI originates from the giant, spatially inhomogeneous nonlinear optical response arising from the strong, long-range interactions between Rydberg atoms. By extending the theoretical framework beyond the conventional paraxial approximation, we derive a light propagation equation that rigorously incorporates such inhomogeneous nonlinearity. Our study reveals that the SOI is driven by the gradient of the inhomogeneous nonlinear response and therefore vanishes in linear or homogeneous media. When two orthogonal light fields co-propagate, the SOI generates novel nonlinear energy transfer and pronounced structural deformation, which are not captured without considering the SOI or within the paraxial approximation. Furthermore, owing to its direct dependence on the gradient of the nonlocal nonlinearity, the SOI is inherently mode-dependent. As a consequence, the structural deformation becomes particularly significant for light fields with odd parity symmetry. Our investigation establishes novel pathways for exploring the nonlinear SOI and examining inhomogeneous nonlinear optical responses beyond the paraxial approximation in cold Rydberg atomic gases.

Chinese Physics Letters•Apr 13, 2026•2 citations
Atomic, molecular and optical physics is a field which, during the last few decades, has known spectacular developments in various directions, like nonlinear optics, laser cooling and trapping, quantum degenerate gases, quantum information. Atom–photon interactions play an essential role in these developments. This book presents an introduction to quantum optics which, I am sure, will provide an invaluable help to the students, researchers and engineers who are beginning to work in these fields and who want to become familiar with the basic concepts underlying electromagnetic interactions. Most books dealing with these subjects follow either a semi-classical approach, where the field is treated as a classical field interacting with quantum particles, or a full quantum approach where both systems are quantized. The first approach is often oversimplified and fails to describe correctly new situations that can now be investigated with the development of sophisticated experimental techniques. The second approach is often too difficult for beginners and lacks simple physical pictures, very useful for an initial understanding of a physical phenomenon. The advantage of this book is that it gives both approaches, starting with the first, illustrated by several simple examples, and introducing progressively the second, clearly showing why it is essential for the understanding of certain phenomena. The authors also clearly demonstrate, in the case of non-linear optics and laser cooling, how advantageous it may be to combine both approaches in the analysis of an experimental situation and how one can get from each point of view useful, complementary physical insights.
Abstract Rydberg atoms, characterized by their giant polarizability and strong long-range interactions, provide an ideal platform for exploring optical nonlinearities. By coupling light to ensembles of Rydberg atoms, one can map the strong and nonlocal interactions between Rydberg atoms and light fields. A particularly important scheme for realizing such nonlinearity is electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). This article presents a review of the research progress in nonlinear optics based on Rydberg-EIT systems, particularly nonlinear light propagation in Rydberg atomic gases. We first introduce the fundamental properties of Rydberg atoms and the physical mechanism of EIT-enhanced nonlinearity, emphasizing how the Rydberg blockade effect endows the system with a giant nonlocal Kerr nonlinearity. Subsequently, we discuss some typical nonlinear optical phenomena in such a system with focusing and defocusing nonlocal nonlinearities. In the focusing regime, we discuss spatial solitons, vortex solitons, soliton cloning, soliton molecules, optical bullets, and self-induced transparency solitons. Other topics are also discussed. In the defocusing regime, we analyze pattern formation and shock wave dynamics. Finally, we provide an outlook on the future development of this field toward quantum control, hybrid-system integration, and novel functional devices.
Collective scattering of light due to atomic recoil, also known as collective atomic recoil lasing (CARL), occurs when a gas of atoms coherently scatters light from a pump laser via a collective instability. The scattering process can become unstable due to the atoms in the gas recoiling under the influence of the dynamic optical forces which arise due to the interference of the pump and scattered fields. The atoms move to form a spatially periodic density grating, which in turn amplifies the scattered field. This paper presents a theoretical analysis of CARL phenomena in degenerate ultracold gases of bosons and fermions. In the case of bosons i.e. in a Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC),the effect of atom-atom interactions due to collisions on the CARL instability in the case of both attractive and repulsive condensates, is investigated. In the case of fermionic gases, the effect of Fermi pressure, is also presented. The linear and nonlinear evolution of the optical field and the atomic momentum distribution are considered for both cases.
Abstract We demonstrate that a nonlinear spin–orbit interaction (SOI) emerges in cold Rydberg atomic gases, where the orbital characteristics (spatial structure) of light fields become coupled to their polarization (spin). This SOI originates from the giant, spatially inhomogeneous nonlinear optical response arising from the strong, long-range interactions between Rydberg atoms. By extending the theoretical framework beyond the conventional paraxial approximation, we derive a light propagation equation that rigorously incorporates such inhomogeneous nonlinearity. Our study reveals that the SOI is driven by the gradient of the inhomogeneous nonlinear response and therefore vanishes in linear or homogeneous media. When two orthogonal light fields co-propagate, the SOI generates novel nonlinear energy transfer and pronounced structural deformation, which are not captured without considering the SOI or within the paraxial approximation. Furthermore, owing to its direct dependence on the gradient of the nonlocal nonlinearity, the SOI is inherently mode-dependent. As a consequence, the structural deformation becomes particularly significant for light fields with odd parity symmetry. Our investigation establishes novel pathways for exploring the nonlinear SOI and examining inhomogeneous nonlinear optical responses beyond the paraxial approximation in cold Rydberg atomic gases.