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Annual Meeting Optical Society of America

Vacuum-field interference and enhanced spontaneous-emission in confined structures and in the microscopic-cavity

F. DeMartini, Paolo Mataloni, D. Murra

Published Jan 1, 1990• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The method of "Periodic-Pumping" for Spontaneous-Emission (SpE) investigation has been first introduced by our laboratory.1 This method is applied here to vacuum-confinement structures [i.e., the "microcavity"2,3 and single-mirror confinement devices]. The method consists of the detection of the effect of spatial displacement of the excitation-region in the vacuum-confined active-zone on the SpE average probability: Γ = (1/T). The method is illustrated with reference to the Fabry-Perot microcavity with spacing d = d ≡ λ/2, i.e., in "SpE enhancement" condition. There the injection-angle θ of the well-collimated coherent pumping beam (SHG by an unstable-cavity Nd-YaG laser) which interferes only once in the microcavity by singlemirror reflection, is related to the position of the center-of-mass of the active-zone. A strong effect of SpE lifetime change under θ-variation enables the study of the distribution of the self-interfering vacuum field in the microcavity.

DOI
10.1364/oam.1990.fgg6

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The method of "Periodic-Pumping" for Spontaneous-Emission (SpE) investigation has been first introduced by our laboratory.1 This method is applied here to vacuum-confinement structures [i.e., the "microcavity"2,3 and single-mirror confinement devices]. The method consists of the detection of the effect of spatial displacement of the excitation-region in the vacuum-confined active-zone on the SpE average probability: Γ = (1/T). The method is illustrated with reference to the Fabry-Perot microcavity with spacing d = d ≡ λ/2, i.e., in "SpE enhancement" condition. There the injection-angle θ of the well-collimated coherent pumping beam (SHG by an unstable-cavity Nd-YaG laser) which interferes only once in the microcavity by singlemirror reflection, is related to the position of the center-of-mass of the active-zone. A strong effect of SpE lifetime change under θ-variation enables the study of the distribution of the self-interfering vacuum field in the microcavity.
The process of the spontaneous emission (SpE) from an active microscopic cavity (microcavity) is shown with emphasis on mirror separation of the order of the optical wavelength. The relevant effects of SpE enhancement and inhibition, non-exponential decay, and emission anisotropy are outlined for a cavity terminated by mirrors bearing either metal -- or semiconductor -- multilayered coatings. Finally, an experiment regarding the possibility of detecting the field distribution within the cavity of the emission wavelength is shown.
The quantum theory of the spontaneous emission (SpE) from an active microscopic cavity (microcavity) is given with emphasis on mirror separations of the order of the optical wavelength. The theory is based on a complete set of orthonormal-mode functions that include both transverse polarizations and span the infinite three dimensional space that pervades and surrounds the microcavity. SpE rates for different active-dipole orientations and cavity configurations are calculated. The SpE pulse shape detected outside the cavity is shown to be generally nonexponential. A detailed computer simulation of the process is presented on the basis of the given theory in the perspective of our experiment, for a cavity terminated by mirrors bearing either metal- or semiconductor-multilayered coatings. We then report an extensive experimental verification of the theory by adopting an Eu-dibenzoylmethane complex as active medium with SpE from the 5^{5}5${\mathit{D}}_{0\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}^{7}$F2{\mathit{F}}_{2}F2​ line at \ensuremath{\lambda}=6111 \AA{}, under coherent uv excitation at ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{\mathit{p}}$=3547 \AA{}. The results show evidence of ``SpE inhibition'' and ``enhancement,'' of nonexponential decay of SpE signals, and of competition with superradiance and stimulated emission. Finally we report the results of an experimental test of the algorithm adopted in all computer calculations of the optical parameters of the multilayered structures used for cavity confinement.
Anomalous quantum processes in the context of spontaneous emission (SpE)1,2 and stimulated emission (StE)3,4, which are closely related to the fundamental dynamics of photon emission and to the related plane-wave quantum photon delocalization process4,5 were studied by our laboratory by use of the optical microcavity. The most efficient method we adopt in our present studies consists of a detailed investigation of the Bose-Einstein (BE) transverse quantum correlation process established within the microcavity active plane between two identical cylindrical microlasers (with diameter δ≈30 μm) excited by two identical focused pump beams (at wavelength λ p = 0.53 μm when working within nanosecond exciting pulse-duration (Δτ) conditions, SHG by an unstable-cavity Nd-YAG laser) and coupled to the same and common microcavity plane-wave, forward k-mode. Our investigation of the quantum coupling process consists of the determination of the thresholdless laser-gain (g) of the overall active device as a function of the radial distance s between the microlasers and determined by the position of the pump focused beams. The solution of the detailed QED intermicrolaser coupling equations leads to the determination of the s-dependence of the relevant dynamical quantity α(s), the degree of BE transverse quantum correlation by assuming the microcavity spacing d = d ¯ N , d ¯ ≡ λ / 2 as a relevant parameter. The overall laser output radiation is detected by a high quantum efficiency, cooled photomultiplier by previous focusing onto a 20-μm pinhole, making a spatial filter that dis criminates efficiently against detection of radiation emitted on FP-cavity modes other than the forward-mode.4
The quantum theory of the spontaneous emission (SpE) in the optical microscopic cavity (microcavity) is reported we believe for the first time.1,2 The forms of the modes propagating orthogonally to the mirrors and previously studied by Ley and Loudon3 are here generalized to cover all spatial directions. Microcavity field quantization leads to the expressions of the SpE probabilities Γ||, Γ⊥ for dipoles parallel and orthogonal to the mirrors, respectively. These are computer calculated for some experimentally significant cases involving both metal and dielectric multilayer-mirror coatings.
A three-dimensional quantum nonperturbative theory of spontaneous emission in a planar microcavity is developed on the basis of a complete set of orthogonal standing-wave mode functions. Earlier results on the spontaneous decay rate and far-field emission pattern which have been obtained in a perturbative fashion are shown to be contained in our theory. Time evolution of the initially excited atomic state is considered and comparison with perturbative results is given. It is found that though the Fabry-Perot cavity is of an open type, vacuum-field Rabi oscillations are still possible. Conditions that are favorable for this strong coupling regime are discussed. The near-field spontaneous-emission pattern and the transition from the near field to the far field are investigated. For moderate mirror reflectivities, the spread in the near-field emission pattern is found to be in good agreement with the effective mode radius concept. When the mirror reflectivity increases, however, one has a strong coupling regime and together with it, multiple reabsorptions and reemissions of the photon may occur, leading to a better localization of the photon around the atomic position. These considerations may be useful in designing microlasers of the planar type.
High gain and virtual zero threshold have been recognized to be distinctive properties of the microlaser since its original proposal and realization by our laboratory in 1988. These properties are investigated both theoretically and experimentally. They are found to be determined by the synergy of several quantum-statistical processes that take place in the condition of extreme field confinement provided by the peculiar Casimir-type topology of the optical microcavity. The determination of the microcavity mode structure leads to a detailed study of the process of spontaneous emission (SpE), its merging with stimulated emission, and the consequent anomalous onset of the collective atomic behavior at low excitation levels. A microlaser excitation threshold of ~50 pJ has been determined experimentally with a molecular Oxazine microlaser excited by a femtosecond source. The relevance in atomic dynamics of the processes of SpE inhibition—enhancement, mode competition, fluorescence loss, interatomic transverse Bose correlations, and periodic excitation—is investigated both theoretically and experimentally. A discussion of the overall process in terms of a second-order phase transition in a nonequilibrium statistical problem is given. The extension of the microlaser dynamics to other quantum systems, such as the microscopic parametric oscillator, and to Raman and Compton scattering is considered.