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Physical Review A

Spatial distortions of laser pulses in coherent on-resonance propagation: Small-scale self-focusing

Jacques de Lamare, Ph.J. Kupecek, Michel Comte

Published May 1, 1995• 4 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We present a quantitative model for coherent on-resonance small-scale self-focusing of laser pulses in atomic media. A vapor-induced diaphragm effect at the edge of the pulse generates a pattern of diffraction rings that modulates the initial transverse profile of the pulse. Practically, because of the spatial asymmetry of the original pulse, this diffraction pattern is perturbed and dots appear superimposed upon the rings. A large-scale self-focusing phenomenon is then initiated from each individual dot and the global transverse energy profile of the pulse evolves in a hot-spot pattern. This final pattern is characteristic of what is usually called small-scale self-focusing. Our theoretical predictions are compared with both the results of an experiment on a $^{169}\mathrm{Tm}$ vapor and the predictions of existing models.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.51.4289

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Spatial distortions of laser pulses in coherent on-resonance propagation: Large-scale self-focusing

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When cylindrical symmetry is assumed, a numerical study of coherent on-resonance self-focusing of laser pulses in atomic media reveals a well-defined dependence on the interaction's parameters for the focusing distance and the maximal on-axis energy density reached at the focus. We interpreted this focusing to be the result of a diaphragm effect at the edge of the pulse. This can be readily explained by considering the transverse dependence of local self-induced transparency phenomena first described by McCall and Hahn [Phys. Rev. Lett. 18, 908 (1967); Phys. Rev. 183, 457 (1969)]. From this interpretation and the well-known Maxwell-Bloch equations, we derived a theoretical quantitative model for coherent on-resonance large-scale self-focusing, that is to say, focusing of the beam as a whole. Our main results include the above-mentioned exact parametric dependence for the focusing distance, as well as predictions about the ratios of on-axis energy densities and pulse transverse sizes between the input and focus planes. All of these predictions appear to corroborate the results of an experiment on a ${\mathrm{Tm}}^{169}$ vapor.

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Physical Review A•May 1, 1999•4 citations
We present a quantitative model for coherent on-resonance small-scale self-focusing of laser pulses in atomic media. A vapor-induced diaphragm effect at the edge of the pulse generates a pattern of diffraction rings that modulates the initial transverse profile of the pulse. Practically, because of the spatial asymmetry of the original pulse, this diffraction pattern is perturbed and dots appear superimposed upon the rings. A large-scale self-focusing phenomenon is then initiated from each individual dot and the global transverse energy profile of the pulse evolves in a hot-spot pattern. This final pattern is characteristic of what is usually called small-scale self-focusing. Our theoretical predictions are compared with both the results of an experiment on a 169Tm^{169}\mathrm{Tm}169Tm vapor and the predictions of existing models.
When cylindrical symmetry is assumed, a numerical study of coherent on-resonance self-focusing of laser pulses in atomic media reveals a well-defined dependence on the interaction's parameters for the focusing distance and the maximal on-axis energy density reached at the focus. We interpreted this focusing to be the result of a diaphragm effect at the edge of the pulse. This can be readily explained by considering the transverse dependence of local self-induced transparency phenomena first described by McCall and Hahn [Phys. Rev. Lett. 18, 908 (1967); Phys. Rev. 183, 457 (1969)]. From this interpretation and the well-known Maxwell-Bloch equations, we derived a theoretical quantitative model for coherent on-resonance large-scale self-focusing, that is to say, focusing of the beam as a whole. Our main results include the above-mentioned exact parametric dependence for the focusing distance, as well as predictions about the ratios of on-axis energy densities and pulse transverse sizes between the input and focus planes. All of these predictions appear to corroborate the results of an experiment on a Tm169{\mathrm{Tm}}^{169}Tm169 vapor.
Subject of study. The self-diffraction process of a resonant pulse in a dense extended resonant medium was studied for the first time to our knowledge. This process leads to an angular deflection of the output radiation and sequential emission of a large series of N pulses with a variable area in the range (−3π,…,0,…,3π). The pulses are emitted from a small focusing region (0.1–1 mm) of the pump pulse in a dense extended resonant medium. The pulse wavelength corresponds to the resonant transition D287Rb (wavelength 780.24 nm). Aim of study. The nonlinear effect of the self-diffraction of a laser pulse with a cylindrical wavefront is studied in an extended resonant medium of rubidium vapor to develop new resonant microwave photonics devices using laser signal-processing methods in the microwave spectrum. Method. A transverse spatial profile of the electric field strength of a special shape f(x) is created in the caustic of a focused beam of a laser pump pulse with a cylindrical wavefront. The pump pulse must have a converging (for example, cylindrical) wavefront. Computer-synthesized holograms developed by us are used to create an arbitrary f(x) profile. Main results. The effect of the self-diffraction of a pump pulse is studied. This is accompanied by the emission of a series of N coherent resonant pulses with different areas in the range (−3π,…,0,…,3π) from a short focusing region (0.1–1 mm) of a resonant laser pump pulse. The self-diffraction of the pump pulse resulted in 16 emitted pulses with different areas. The distribution of series pulses over the diffraction angle was observed in the angle range from −5∘ to +4∘. The nonlinear generation of 0π-pulses was observed at some angles. The results verify the nonlinear generation of 0π-pulses over a short interaction length between light and a resonant medium for the first time to our knowledge. Practical significance. The obtained results on the effect of the self-diffraction of a resonant pulse with a transverse spatial profile f(x) will serve as a basis for the development of prototype devices for signal-processing problems using low-power laser diodes.
Analytic and numerical solutions of the Maxwell–Bloch equations, including transverse and timedependent phase variations, predict on-resonance self-focusing (SF) and elucidate its formation due to the combined effect of diffraction and inertial response of the medium. This new SF can be characterized by a simple parameter in terms of the beam and medium parameters. Recently, two independent experiments on SF in Na and Ne demonstrated convincingly this new SF effect for spatially nonuniform self-induced transparency pulses propagating in thick resonant absorbers.
Cold atomic clouds constitute highly resonant nonlinear optical media, whose refractive index can easily be tuned via the light frequency. When subjected to a retroreflected laser beam and under appropriate conditions, the cloud undergoes spontaneous symmetry breaking, and spatial patterns develop in the transverse cross section of the beam. We investigate the impact of the sign of the light detuning from the atomic resonance on these patterns, thus directly comparing pattern formation for self-focusing and self-defocusing nonlinearities. Our observations emphasize the need for a ``diffractively thick'' medium description of the light-cloud interaction in which diffraction and nonlinear propagation inside the sample are taken into account.
Analytical and numerical methods are used to study the transverse reshaping that occurs when ultrashort optical pulses propagate through media resonant to the pulse-carrier frequency. The field is described by the scalar quasi-optic equation, and the material system by the full Bloch equations describing a distribution of homogeneously broadened two-level molecules. Transverse derivatives in the field equation provide the coupling leading to the development of radially dependent frequency variations and phase curvature. We have studied the origin and evolution of transverse energy flow and investigated the conditions under which this leads to significant coherent self-focusing. The physical mechanisms responsible for the onset and development of the focusing phenomenon are discussed and related to other types of self-confinement of optical pulses.
We calculate the far-field intensity pattern of superradiant emission from an optically thin ensemble of atomic oscillators excited by a spatially nonuniform laser pulse of large Rabi area. As the excitation intensity is increased, the superradiant field develops ring structure and expands due to self-diffraction. This effect is made manifest by a two-pulse photon echo experiment where the second pulse is spatially much broader than the first and has a small Rabi area. As a function of the intensity of the first excitation pulse, we measure the on-axis and off-axis echo intensity and find, in agreement with our calculations, that the two behave differently. We also show that for a random, sufficiently smooth excitation profile, the total power of cooperative emission is proportional to the integral, over the excited volume, of the induced dipole moment squared.