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Laser & Photonics Review

Modulation of Spatial Coherence and Circular Dichroism of Atoms Based on Hybrid Poincaré Beams

Guoan Cai, Zhaoying Wang

Published Aug 19, 2026• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

ABSTRACT The manipulation mechanisms of the hybrid Poincaré beam (HPB) on the spatial coherence and circular dichroism of a polarized atomic ensemble are investigated. The inherent spatial polarization distribution of the HPB can establish position‐dependent and selective interaction channels with different Zeeman sublevels of atoms. By applying an external static magnetic field, the dynamic modulation of atomic spatial coherence and circular dichroism based on different magnetic field orientations can be analyzed. To characterize this process, this article innovatively employs the Stokes parameters distribution and polarization ellipse parameters of the transmitted light spot as direct observational methods. The evolution trajectory of the polarization state is directly mapped onto the Poincaré sphere, enabling a visual representation of the optical field's polarization state. This method intuitively reveals the continuous evolution of atomic polarization characteristics under different orientation magnetic fields, thereby transforming the microscopic quantum control process into macroscopic and clear polarization transmission images.

DOI
10.1002/lpor.71779

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ABSTRACT The manipulation mechanisms of the hybrid Poincaré beam (HPB) on the spatial coherence and circular dichroism of a polarized atomic ensemble are investigated. The inherent spatial polarization distribution of the HPB can establish position‐dependent and selective interaction channels with different Zeeman sublevels of atoms. By applying an external static magnetic field, the dynamic modulation of atomic spatial coherence and circular dichroism based on different magnetic field orientations can be analyzed. To characterize this process, this article innovatively employs the Stokes parameters distribution and polarization ellipse parameters of the transmitted light spot as direct observational methods. The evolution trajectory of the polarization state is directly mapped onto the Poincaré sphere, enabling a visual representation of the optical field's polarization state. This method intuitively reveals the continuous evolution of atomic polarization characteristics under different orientation magnetic fields, thereby transforming the microscopic quantum control process into macroscopic and clear polarization transmission images.
In this paper, we present the experiment and the theory scheme of light-atom interaction in atomic magnetometers by using a hybrid Poincaré beam (HPB) to solve an annoying problem, named “dead zone.” This kind of magnetometer can be sensitive to arbitrary directions of external magnetic fields. The HPB has a complex polarization distribution, consisting of a vector radially polarized beam and a scalar circularly polarized beam in our experiment. These two kinds of beams have different directions of dead zones of external magnetic fields; thereby, the atomic magnetometer with an HPB can avoid the non-signal area when the direction of the external magnetic field is in the plane perpendicular to the light polarization plane. Furthermore, the optical magnetic resonance (OMR) signal using an HPB still has no dead zones even when the direction of the external magnetic field is in the plane parallel to the polarization plane in our scheme. Our work has the potential to simplify and optimize dead-zone-free atomic magnetometers.
In recent years, vector beams (VBs) with spatially varying polarization profiles have been used in many fields. Here we study the transmission properties of a hybrid VB passing through atomic vapor. We observe a four-petal pattern which is induced by the rapid transport of atomic coherence. This intensity distribution can be modified by coherence attenuation and absorption enhancement controlled by an external magnetic field. A second experiment with orthogonal circularly polarized states shows that the quantum coherence can be induced by two spatially separated laser beams and support our interpretation of our results for the hybrid VB experiment. Our results may have applications in optical manipulation, the measurement of magnetic fields, and the study of quantum coherence in atomic ensembles.
Abstract The ultimate challenge for shaping technology is how to control the light field with a single optical element in a high-speed manner, wherein the spatial distribution of amplitude, phase or polarization are manipulated. Here we describe the use of the magneto optic effect to achieve the rapidly shaping of vector beams in real time using atomic ensemble. Firstly, the Faraday-rotation effect of vector beams is shown. On this basis, dynamically modulate the polarization of a vector beams on each point is implemented, and the polarization state of the manipulated beam is characterized with spatially resolved Stokes parameters measurements. The response time of this manipulation is about 40 μ s. The magnetic field high-speed switching and the dynamic manipulation capabilities of this method will be particularly useful for controlling light propagation through complex media and speed up the measurement of the properties of media.
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We show that optical activity in atomic media can generate multidimensional correlations in frequency, polarization and spatial degrees of freedom, allowing us to observe frequency shifts as image rotations. Specifically, we demonstrate a pump-probe scheme, where optical pumping with circularly polarized light generates macroscopic magnetization in an atomic vapor, associated with frequency-dependent circular dichroism and birefringence. A vortex probe beam, characterized by spatially varying polarization, maps this optical activity onto the spatial structure of the transmitted light. Measuring the intensity profile in a suitable polarization component then allows us to perform spatially resolved polarization spectroscopy. On resonance we observe a rotation with a slope in the order of 98 mrad per MHz. These findings may find applications in image-based laser-locking, high-precision spectroscopy, magnetometry, and the generation of hybrid entanglement.
We show that optical activity in atomic media can generate multidimensional correlations in frequency, polarization and spatial degrees of freedom, allowing us to observe frequency shifts as image rotations. Specifically, we demonstrate a pump-probe scheme, where optical pumping with circularly polarized light generates macroscopic magnetization in an atomic vapor, associated with frequency-dependent circular dichroism and birefringence. A vortex probe beam, characterized by spatially varying polarization, maps this optical activity onto the spatial structure of the transmitted light. Measuring the intensity profile in a suitable polarization component then allows us to perform spatially resolved polarization spectroscopy. On resonance we observe a rotation with a slope in the order of 98 mrad per MHz. These findings may find applications in image-based laser-locking, high-precision spectroscopy, magnetometry, and the generation of hybrid entanglement.