arXiv:physics/0512126 · Physical Review A

Sagnac interferometry in a slow-light medium

G. T. Purves, Charles S. Adams, Ifan G. Hughes

Published Aug 7, 2006• 24 citations

Abstract

We use a Sagnac interferometer to measure the dispersive and absorptive properties of room temperature Rubidium vapor on the ${D}_{2}$ line at $780.2\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$. We apply a pump beam such that the resulting $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ system exhibits electromagnetically induced transparency. Using a ``biased alignment'' technique we demonstrate a direct and robust method of measuring the rapid variation in the refractive index. Such a ``slow-light'' Sagnac interferometer is ideally suited to precision measurement applications such as magnetometry and inertial sensing.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.74.023805

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Absorption and dispersion in atomic vapours: Applications to interferometery

G. T. Purves

Jan 1, 200610 citations

Measurement of Dispersive Properties of Electromagnetically Induced Transparency in Rubidium Atoms

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Slow light and its potential applications

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Electromagnetically Induced Transparency in optically trapped rubidium atoms

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arXiv:physics/0512126 · Physical Review A

Sagnac interferometry in a slow-light medium

G. T. Purves, Charles S. Adams, Ifan G. Hughes

Published Aug 7, 2006• 24 citations

arXiv HTML PDF

Abstract

We use a Sagnac interferometer to measure the dispersive and absorptive properties of room temperature Rubidium vapor on the

{D}_{2}

line at

780.2\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}

. We apply a pump beam such that the resulting

\ensuremath{\Lambda}

system exhibits electromagnetically induced transparency. Using a

biased alignment'' technique we demonstrate a direct and robust method of measuring the rapid variation in the refractive index. Such a

slow-light'' Sagnac interferometer is ideally suited to precision measurement applications such as magnetometry and inertial sensing.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.74.023805

Related papers

Absorption and dispersion in atomic vapours: Applications to interferometery

G. T. Purves

Continuous wave extended cavity diode lasers are used to measure the absorptive and dispersive properties of the 5 2S1/2 → 5 (^2)Рз/2 resonance, at 780 nm, in Rubidium (Rb) vapour. The Doppler-broadened hyperfine transitions are studied both with and without a pump beam. The investigation concentrates on three-level Л-systems, realized in the presence of a pump beam, exhibiting Electromagnetically Induced Transparency (EIT). Electromagnetically Induced Absorption (EIA) IS also seen. The EIT and EIA resonances can be several orders of magnitude narrower than the natural line width of the atomic transitions in the absence of the pump beam. Further, the EIT resonances are sensitive to applied magnetic fields. The narrowest resonances measured in this work have a full-width at half- maximum of 〜 80 kHz. This is limited by the transit time of the atoms through the probe and pump beams. Predictions of theoretical calculations and models are compared to experimental results. The theory of beam splitters and interferometers is developed to enable the implementation of a Sagnac interferometer in a novel "biased" alignment. This allows the dispersion of atomic resonances to be measured directly. The direct measurement of the dispersion of the narrow EIT features in a "biased" Sagnac interferometer is presented. Such a signal is ideally suited to precision measurement applications such 88 inertial sensing and magnetometry.Continuous wave extended cavity diode lasers are used to measure the absorptive and dispersive properties of the 5 2S1/2 → 5 (^2)Рз/2 resonance, at 780 nm, in Rubidium (Rb) vapour. The Doppler-broadened hyperfine transitions are studied both with and without a pump beam. The investigation concentrates on three-level Л-systems, realized in the presence of a pump beam, exhibiting Electromagnetically Induced Transparency (EIT). Electromagnetically Induced Absorption (EIA) IS also seen. The EIT and EIA resonances can be several orders of magnitude narrower than the natural line width of the atomic transitions in the absence of the pump beam. Further, the EIT resonances are sensitive to applied magnetic fields. The narrowest resonances measured in this work have a full-width at half- maximum of 〜 80 kHz. This is limited by the transit time of the atoms through the probe and pump beams. Predictions of theoretical calculations and models are compared to experimental results. The theory of beam splitters and interferometers is developed to enable the implementation of a Sagnac interferometer in a novel "biased" alignment. This allows the dispersion of atomic resonances to be measured directly. The direct measurement of the dispersion of the narrow EIT features in a "biased" Sagnac interferometer is presented. Such a signal is ideally suited to precision measurement applications such 88 inertial sensing and magnetometry.

Jan 1, 200610 citations

Measurement of Dispersive Properties of Electromagnetically Induced Transparency in Rubidium Atoms

Min Xiao, Yongqing Li, Shaozheng Jin +1 more

The dispersive properties of the atomic transition in the rubidium ${D}_{2}$ line ($5{S}_{\frac{1}{2}}\ensuremath{-}5{P}_{\frac{3}{2}}$) at 780.0 nm are measured with a Mach-Zehnder interferometer when an additional coupling field at 775.8 nm is applied to an upper transition ($5{P}_{\frac{3}{2}}\ensuremath{-}5{D}_{\frac{5}{2}}$). This ladder-type system is observed to exhibit electromagnetically induced transparency together with a rapidly varying refractive index. A reduction in group velocity for the probe beam ( ${v}_{g}=\frac{c}{13.2}$ ) is inferred from the measured dispersion curve with 52.5% suppressed absorption on resonance.The dispersive properties of the atomic transition in the rubidium ${D}_{2}$ line ($5{S}_{\frac{1}{2}}\ensuremath{-}5{P}_{\frac{3}{2}}$) at 780.0 nm are measured with a Mach-Zehnder interferometer when an additional coupling field at 775.8 nm is applied to an upper transition ($5{P}_{\frac{3}{2}}\ensuremath{-}5{D}_{\frac{5}{2}}$). This ladder-type system is observed to exhibit electromagnetically induced transparency together with a rapidly varying refractive index. A reduction in group velocity for the probe beam (${v}_{g}=\frac{c}{13.2}$) is inferred from the measured dispersion curve with 52.5% suppressed absorption on resonance.

Physical Review LettersJan 30, 1995731 citations

Slow light and its potential applications

Zhengbin Li, Peng Chao, Anshi Xu

Summary form only given. Slow light has achieved great progress in waveguide and fibers in room temperature, which could be accelerating the transition of this technique to applications. This talk will review devising methods for tailoring the dispersion of optical materials, such as electromagnetically induced transparency, photonic crystals, and nano-optic resonators over the last decade. And the potential applications of slow light for optical buffering, data synchronization, optical memories, and optical signal processing will be cataloged. Then the interaction between slow light and Sagnac effect is discussed. The concept of the Sagnac effect in a slow-light medium and resonator structure with high group dispersion is investigated. It is found that a slow-light medium can be utilized for relative motion sensing, and a slow-light resonator structure is suitable to detect absolute rotation for navigation purposes. It is noted that the high group dispersion leads to a huge enhancement of the rotation sensor's sensitivity in a resonating structure, and an approach to evaluate and design resonator devices with slow-light property is proposed. Moreover, a folded loop-lattice-based structure is numerically simulated to verify the concept.Summary form only given. Slow light has achieved great progress in waveguide and fibers in room temperature, which could be accelerating the transition of this technique to applications. This talk will review devising methods for tailoring the dispersion of optical materials, such as electromagnetically induced transparency, photonic crystals, and nano-optic resonators over the last decade. And the potential applications of slow light for optical buffering, data synchronization, optical memories, and optical signal processing will be cataloged. Then the interaction between slow light and Sagnac effect is discussed. The concept of the Sagnac effect in a slow-light medium and resonator structure with high group dispersion is investigated. It is found that a slow-light medium can be utilized for relative motion sensing, and a slow-light resonator structure is suitable to detect absolute rotation for navigation purposes. It is noted that the high group dispersion leads to a huge enhancement of the rotation sensor's sensitivity in a resonating structure, and an approach to evaluate and design resonator devices with slow-light property is proposed. Moreover, a folded loop-lattice-based structure is numerically simulated to verify the concept.

Asia Optical Fiber Communication and Optoelectronics Conference (AOE)Jan 1, 20070 citations

Controllable Anomalous Dispersion and Group Index Nulling via Bi-Frequency Raman Gain in Rb Vapor for application to Ultraprecision Rotation Sensing

G. S. Pati, Renu Tripathi, M. Messall +2 more

We have recently proposed [9], the use of fast-light media to obtain ultrahigh precision rotation sensing capabilities. The scheme relies on producing a critically anomalous dispersion, in a suitable dispersive medium, which is introduced in the arms of a Sagnac interferometer. We present here an experimental investigation of the anomalous dispersion properties of bi-frequency Raman gain in rubidium vapor, with the goal of using this medium for producing the critically anomalous dispersion condition. A heterodyne phase measurement technique is used to measure accurately the index variation associated with the dispersion. The slope of the negative linear dispersion (or group index) is experimentally varied by more than two orders of magnitude while changing the frequency separation between pump fields, responsible for producing gain. Using this result, we have identified the experimental parameters for achieving a null value of the group index, corresponding to the critically anomalous dispersion condition necessary for enhanced rotational sensitivity.We have recently proposed [9], the use of fast-light media to obtain ultrahigh precision rotation sensing capabilities. The scheme relies on producing a critically anomalous dispersion, in a suitable dispersive medium, which is introduced in the arms of a Sagnac interferometer. We present here an experimental investigation of the anomalous dispersion properties of bi-frequency Raman gain in rubidium vapor, with the goal of using this medium for producing the critically anomalous dispersion condition. A heterodyne phase measurement technique is used to measure accurately the index variation associated with the dispersion. The slope of the negative linear dispersion (or group index) is experimentally varied by more than two orders of magnitude while changing the frequency separation between pump fields, responsible for producing gain. Using this result, we have identified the experimental parameters for achieving a null value of the group index, corresponding to the critically anomalous dispersion condition necessary for enhanced rotational sensitivity.

arXiv:quant-ph/0512260Dec 30, 20051 citation

Electromagnetically Induced Transparency in optically trapped rubidium atoms

Bernd Kaltenhäuser, Harald Kübler, Andreas Chromik +3 more

We demonstrate electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in a sample of rubidium atoms, trapped in an optical dipole trap. Mixing a small amount of $σ^-$ -polarized light to the weak $σ^+$ -polarized probe pulses, we are able to measure the absorptive and dispersive properties of the atomic medium at the same time. Features as small as 4 kHz have been detected on an absorption line with 20 MHz line width.We demonstrate electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in a sample of rubidium atoms, trapped in an optical dipole trap. Mixing a small amount of $σ^-$-polarized light to the weak $σ^+$-polarized probe pulses, we are able to measure the absorptive and dispersive properties of the atomic medium at the same time. Features as small as 4 kHz have been detected on an absorption line with 20 MHz line width.

arXiv:quant-ph/0701049Jan 9, 20072 citations

Parametric dispersion in electromagnetically induced transparency

Matthias A. Müller, F. Homann, R.-H. Rinkleff +2 more

We analyze both experimentally and theoretically the phase shift of a fixed coupling laser field in a \ensuremath{\Lambda}-type system induced by a tunable probe laser field. The measurements are performed with a heterodyne interferometer on a beam of cesium atoms in the ${D}_{2}$ line. This system exhibits electromagnetically induced transparency with a rapidly varying refractive index. The parametric dispersion of the coupling field over a range of six decades of coupling laser intensities is investigated and found to be in accord with the predictions from the semiclassical model.We analyze both experimentally and theoretically the phase shift of a fixed coupling laser field in a \ensuremath{\Lambda}-type system induced by a tunable probe laser field. The measurements are performed with a heterodyne interferometer on a beam of cesium atoms in the ${D}_{2}$ line. This system exhibits electromagnetically induced transparency with a rapidly varying refractive index. The parametric dispersion of the coupling field over a range of six decades of coupling laser intensities is investigated and found to be in accord with the predictions from the semiclassical model.

Physical Review AOct 26, 200019 citations

We use a Sagnac interferometer to measure the dispersive and absorptive properties of room temperature Rubidium vapor on the

{D}_{2}

line at

780.2\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}

. We apply a pump beam such that the resulting

\ensuremath{\Lambda}

system exhibits electromagnetically induced transparency. Using a

biased alignment'' technique we demonstrate a direct and robust method of measuring the rapid variation in the refractive index. Such a

slow-light'' Sagnac interferometer is ideally suited to precision measurement applications such as magnetometry and inertial sensing.

The dispersive properties of the atomic transition in the rubidium

{D}_{2}

line ($5{S}_{\frac{1}{2}}\ensuremath{-}5{P}_{\frac{3}{2}}$) at 780.0 nm are measured with a Mach-Zehnder interferometer when an additional coupling field at 775.8 nm is applied to an upper transition ($5{P}_{\frac{3}{2}}\ensuremath{-}5{D}_{\frac{5}{2}}$). This ladder-type system is observed to exhibit electromagnetically induced transparency together with a rapidly varying refractive index. A reduction in group velocity for the probe beam (

{v}_{g}=\frac{c}{13.2}

) is inferred from the measured dispersion curve with 52.5% suppressed absorption on resonance.

We demonstrate electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in a sample of rubidium atoms, trapped in an optical dipole trap. Mixing a small amount of

σ^-

-polarized light to the weak

σ^+

-polarized probe pulses, we are able to measure the absorptive and dispersive properties of the atomic medium at the same time. Features as small as 4 kHz have been detected on an absorption line with 20 MHz line width.

{D}_{2}

line. This system exhibits electromagnetically induced transparency with a rapidly varying refractive index. The parametric dispersion of the coupling field over a range of six decades of coupling laser intensities is investigated and found to be in accord with the predictions from the semiclassical model.