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Frontiers in Physics

Topological Charge Measurement of the Mid-Infrared Vortex Beam via Spatially Dependent Four-Wave Mixing in an Asymmetric Semiconductor Double Quantum Well

Yi Song, Ling Li, Tao Shui, Die Hu, Wen‐Xing Yang

Published Jul 4, 2022• 4 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We theoretically propose a scheme to measure the topological charge (TC) of a mid-infrared vortex beam via observing the intensity distribution of the four-wave mixing (FWM) field in an asymmetric semiconductor double quantum well. Due to the existence of Fano-type interferences, the special inherent interference takes place, and thus generates the interference-type phase and intensity patterns for the FWM field. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the intensity and visibility of the interference-type intensity pattern can be drastically manipulated by adjusting the intensity and detuning the control field. Subsequently, we perform the TC measurement of the vortex driving field via directly monitoring the number of light spots of the FWM field. By choosing the suitable control parameters, the detectable value of the TC can reach to 120 with the visibility exceeding 0.97. Our scheme may provide the possibility for the realization of a mid-infrared OAM detector in a compact solid-state system.

DOI
10.3389/fphy.2022.907284

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•Nov 21, 2025•0 citations
We theoretically propose a scheme to measure the topological charge (TC) of a mid-infrared vortex beam via observing the intensity distribution of the four-wave mixing (FWM) field in an asymmetric semiconductor double quantum well. Due to the existence of Fano-type interferences, the special inherent interference takes place, and thus generates the interference-type phase and intensity patterns for the FWM field. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the intensity and visibility of the interference-type intensity pattern can be drastically manipulated by adjusting the intensity and detuning the control field. Subsequently, we perform the TC measurement of the vortex driving field via directly monitoring the number of light spots of the FWM field. By choosing the suitable control parameters, the detectable value of the TC can reach to 120 with the visibility exceeding 0.97. Our scheme may provide the possibility for the realization of a mid-infrared OAM detector in a compact solid-state system.
We propose a scheme to generate spatially dependent four-wave mixing (FWM) in an asymmetric semiconductor three-coupled-quantum-well nanostructure. By adjusting the detuning of the control field, one can effectively manipulate the FWM output field. Specifically, the vortex phase of the FWM field can be modulated. The detailed explanations based on the dispersion relation are given, which are in good agreement with our results. Furthermore, we perform the interference between the FWM field and the same-frequency Gaussian beam. Our results show that the interference patterns can also be modulated via the detuning of the control field, which may provide a way to observe helical phase modulation via the intensity measurement. This work may be useful for investigating the nonlinear optical phenomena based on orbital angular momentum light.
We propose a scheme to demonstrate spatiotemporal-vortex four-wave mixing (FWM) in an asymmetric semiconductor double quantum-well nanostructure. It is found that the orbital-angular-momentum (OAM) phase is transferred entirely from a unique OAM mode to the FWM field. Interestingly, by adjusting the detuning or the intensity of a control field, one can effectively modulate the phase and intensity of the FWM field. Also, we perform the superposition modes created by the interference between the FWM field and a same-frequency Laguerre-Gaussian mode, which show many interesting properties. Moreover, the conversion efficiency and quality of the output FWM field are studied. It is shown that the generated FWM mode has a maximum fidelity of approximately 100%. Our result may find potential applications in fundamental research and quantum technologies based on OAM light in solids.
Orbital angular momentum (OAM) is an important property of vortex light, which provides a valuable tool to manipulate the light-matter interaction in the study of classical and quantum optics. Here we propose a scheme to generate vortex light fields via four-wave mixing (FWM) in asymmetric semiconductor quantum wells. By tailoring the probe-field and control-field detunings, we can effectively manipulate the helical phase and intensity of the FWM field. Particularly, when probe field and control field have identical detuning, we find that both the absorption and phase twist of the generated FWM field are significantly suppressed. Consequently, the highly efficient vortex FWM is realized, where the maximum conversion efficiency reaches around 50%. Our study provides a tool to transfer vortex wavefronts from input to output fields in an efficient way, which may find potential applications in solid-state quantum optics and quantum information processing.
Abstract We present a theoretical scheme to realize two-dimensional (2D) asymmetric diffraction grating in a five-level inverted Y-type asymmetric double semiconductor quantum wells (SQWs) structure with resonant tunneling. The SQW structure interacts with a weak probe laser field, a spatially independent 2D standing-wave (SW) field, and a Laguerre–Gaussian (LG) vortex field, respectively. The results indicate that the diffraction patterns are highly sensitive to amplitude modulation and phase modulation. Because of the existence of vortex light, it is possible to realize asymmetric high-order diffraction in the SQW structure, and then a 2D asymmetric grating is established. By adjusting the detunings of the probe field, vortex field, and SW field, as well as the interaction length, diffraction intensity, and direction of the 2D asymmetric electromagnetically induced grating (EIG) can be controlled effectively. In addition, the number of orbital angular momenta (OAM) and beam waist parameter can be used to modulate the diffraction intensity and energy transfer of the probe light in different regions. High-order diffraction intensity is enhanced and high-efficiency 2D asymmetric diffraction grating with different diffraction patterns is obtained in the scheme. Such 2D asymmetric diffraction grating may be beneficial to the research of optical communication and innovative semiconductor quantum devices.
We investigate the generation of mid-infrared (mid-IR) vortex beams carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) through nonlinear processes in an inhomogeneously broadened 85 Rb atomic ensemble. By employing a four-level atomic system featuring two strong control fields and a weak probe field, we generate a non-degenerate four-wave mixing signal at a wavelength of 5.23 µm. Applying the density-matrix formalism, we derive an analytical expression for the nonlinear atomic coherence which facilitates the transfer of vortex characteristics such as topological charge and intensity and phase profiles from the probe field to the mid-IR signal. Numerical solutions of Maxwell’s wave equation confirm the generation of mid-IR vortex beams with adjustable topological charges and beam widths at different spatial positions. This technique offers significant potential for applications in mid-IR communication, providing additional bandwidth and improved data transmission rates, as well as in fields such as microfluidics, biophysics, and nanotechnology, where OAM-carrying beams can manipulate microparticles with precision.
Abstract The spatial structure and propagation of vortex Four-Wave mixing (FWM) generated in a cascade three-level atomic system when Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) beams are used as the incident pump fields are studied. Firstly, by solving the third-order density matrix elements in the steady state, the intensity expression of the vortex FWM signal is obtained. Next, their spatial image and phase during the propagation process are researched. It is shown that with the increase of propagation distance, its image of the intensity tends to a Gaussian beam, and the center of the spot gradually deviates from the original optical singularity. Furthermore, after superposing multiple topological charge (TC) numbers, the intensity and phase images present entirely different light spots at various positions. The TC number can rapidly increase the capacity of the signal for carrying information. This type of signal can be utilized in quantum communication and information, offering a scalable light source for high-dimensional quantum storage.