Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:physics/0612200 · Physical Review Letters

Nonlocal Stabilization of Nonlinear Beams in a Self-Focusing Atomic Vapor

Stefan Skupin, Mark E. Saffman, Wieslaw Z. Krolikowski

Published Jun 29, 2007• 172 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We show that ballistic transport of optically excited atoms in an atomic vapor provides a nonlocal nonlinearity which stabilizes the propagation of vortex beams and higher order modes in the presence of a self-focusing nonlinearity. Numerical experiments demonstrate stable propagation of higher order nonlinear states (dipole, vortices, and rotating azimuthons) over a hundred diffraction lengths, before dissipation leads to decay of these structures.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.98.263902

Related papers

Propagation dynamics of finite-energy Airy beams in nonlocal nonlinear atomic vapor

Dajin Luo, Shuyun Hu, Huajie Hu +4 more

We investigate the propagation properties of finite-energy Airy beams in nonlocal nonlinear atomic vapor. The nonlocality is caused by the transportation of optically excited atoms and described with a Green function. By conducting numerical simulation on Airy beams in the case of one-dimension, two-dimensions, and ring geometry, respectively, we find that the beams have a more stable shape and a longer propagation distance in the presence of nonlocality. The results show that the nonlocality can slow down the beams’ distortion induced by the self-focusing effect and contributes to a more stable propagation of Airy beams in the nonlinear media.

OSA Continuum•Mar 19, 2019•1 citation

Stabilization of transverse solitary waves by a nonlocal response of the nonlinear medium

Dieter Suter, Tilo Blasberg

Optical pumping of atomic vapors can lead to self-focusing of resonant laser beams. The saturation of the optical pumping process at low intensity allows the study of transverse solitons in the form of self-trapped laser beams, using low-power cw lasers. The long lifetime of the optically pumped atoms allows the atomic diffusion to transport the excitation away from the interaction region. Numerical simulations show that the resulting nonlocal response of the medium represents an important mechanism that stabilizes the self-trapped beam. The theoretical predictions are confirmed by experimental results from sodium vapor.

Physical Review A•Dec 1, 1993•231 citations

Rotating and spiraling spatial dissipative solitons of light and cold atoms

Giuseppe Baio, T. Ackemann, Gian‐Luca Oppo +2 more

Clouds of cold neutral atoms driven by a coherent light beam in a ring cavity exhibit self-structured states transversely with respect to the beam axis due to optomechanical forces and the backaction of the atomic structures on the beam. Below the instability threshold for extended hexagonal structures, localized solitonlike excitations can be stable. These constitute peaks or holes of atom density, depending on the linear susceptibility of the cloud. Complex rotating and spiraling motion of coupled atom-light solitons, and, hence, atomic transport, can be achieved via phase gradients in the input field profile. We also discuss the stability of rotating soliton chains in view of soliton-soliton interactions. The investigations are performed in a cavity scheme but expected to apply to other longitudinally pumped schemes with diffractive coupling.

arXiv:2111.00227•Physical Review A•Feb 18, 2022•3 citations

Nonlinear self-accelerating beams induced in multilevel atomic vapors

Zhenkun Wu, Yagang Zhang, Kaibo Yang +3 more

Abstract We demonstrate the existence and curious propagation dynamics of self-accelerating beams in Λ-type three-level nonlinear atomic vapors with Kerr and cubic-quintic nonlinearities through numerical investigation and mathematical modelling. Upon adjusting the generation and propagation conditions, these nonlinear accelerating beams exhibit different evolution properties. We demonstrate that the input beams can propagate robustly in the medium regardless of its absorption properties. The shape and peak intensity of the main lobes of these input beams, which are the eigenmodes of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) in atomic media, are preserved for a significantly long propagation distance. If such beams are not the modes of the system, they are subjected to the under-healing or over-healing effect, which damages the shape of the self-accelerating beams. We also discuss the interactions between truncated accelerating beams, which readily generate non-accelerating solitons and soliton pairs. The results indicate that the atomic vapor can serve as a promising medium for the generation of nonlinear self-accelerating beams.

•Nov 30, 2020•0 citations

The optical control of spatial dissipative solitons in optical fibers filled with a cold atomic gas

Mikhail Yu. Gubin, A. V. Prokhorov, M. G. Gladush +2 more

We consider the problem of formation and propagation of optical vortex solitons in hollow-core optical fibres filled with a cold atomic gas for the case of the Raman regime in the Λ-scheme of interaction subject to the Lorentz local field effects and in the presence of optical and atomic perturbations. We shows that the coherent optical control by pump beam in such an atomic medium leads to effective development of dynamical equilibrium of diffraction, nonlinear and dissipative processes necessary to stabilize dissipative vortex solitons. We demonstrate that the generation of acoustic waves even with small amplitudes in the fiber can quickly destroy the soliton mode.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•May 8, 2013•0 citations

Instabilities in the Propagation of Laser Beams Through Atomic Vapors

Robert W. Boyd, Daniel J. Gauthier, Michelle S. Malcuit

There are several nonlinear optical processes that can lead to instabilities in a laser beam as it propagates through a nonlinear optical medium. Self focusing effects, for instance, can lead to the growth of new spatial frequency components in a laser beam. A laser beam can also be unstable to the growth of new spectral components. Stimulated Raman scattering is a well-known example of a process that can lead to this sort of instability. In this paper, we present the results of a series of experiments on the somewhat different instabilities that occur for the case of the propagation of a laser beam through an atomic vapor. We find that these instabilities become particularly pronounced when the frequency of the incident laser is near to that of a one- or two-photon resonance of the atom. In either case, we find that the laser beam is unstable to the growth of new frequency components, and that in general these new frequencies are not emitted collinearly with the incident laser. These instabilities are important because they place a limit on the laser intensity that can be used to drive nonlinear optical processes.

International Meeting on Instabilities and Dynamics of Lasers and Nonlinear Optical Systems•Jan 1, 1985•0 citations
We show that ballistic transport of optically excited atoms in an atomic vapor provides a nonlocal nonlinearity which stabilizes the propagation of vortex beams and higher order modes in the presence of a self-focusing nonlinearity. Numerical experiments demonstrate stable propagation of higher order nonlinear states (dipole, vortices, and rotating azimuthons) over a hundred diffraction lengths, before dissipation leads to decay of these structures.
We investigate the propagation properties of finite-energy Airy beams in nonlocal nonlinear atomic vapor. The nonlocality is caused by the transportation of optically excited atoms and described with a Green function. By conducting numerical simulation on Airy beams in the case of one-dimension, two-dimensions, and ring geometry, respectively, we find that the beams have a more stable shape and a longer propagation distance in the presence of nonlocality. The results show that the nonlocality can slow down the beams’ distortion induced by the self-focusing effect and contributes to a more stable propagation of Airy beams in the nonlinear media.
Optical pumping of atomic vapors can lead to self-focusing of resonant laser beams. The saturation of the optical pumping process at low intensity allows the study of transverse solitons in the form of self-trapped laser beams, using low-power cw lasers. The long lifetime of the optically pumped atoms allows the atomic diffusion to transport the excitation away from the interaction region. Numerical simulations show that the resulting nonlocal response of the medium represents an important mechanism that stabilizes the self-trapped beam. The theoretical predictions are confirmed by experimental results from sodium vapor.
Clouds of cold neutral atoms driven by a coherent light beam in a ring cavity exhibit self-structured states transversely with respect to the beam axis due to optomechanical forces and the backaction of the atomic structures on the beam. Below the instability threshold for extended hexagonal structures, localized solitonlike excitations can be stable. These constitute peaks or holes of atom density, depending on the linear susceptibility of the cloud. Complex rotating and spiraling motion of coupled atom-light solitons, and, hence, atomic transport, can be achieved via phase gradients in the input field profile. We also discuss the stability of rotating soliton chains in view of soliton-soliton interactions. The investigations are performed in a cavity scheme but expected to apply to other longitudinally pumped schemes with diffractive coupling.
Abstract We demonstrate the existence and curious propagation dynamics of self-accelerating beams in Λ-type three-level nonlinear atomic vapors with Kerr and cubic-quintic nonlinearities through numerical investigation and mathematical modelling. Upon adjusting the generation and propagation conditions, these nonlinear accelerating beams exhibit different evolution properties. We demonstrate that the input beams can propagate robustly in the medium regardless of its absorption properties. The shape and peak intensity of the main lobes of these input beams, which are the eigenmodes of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) in atomic media, are preserved for a significantly long propagation distance. If such beams are not the modes of the system, they are subjected to the under-healing or over-healing effect, which damages the shape of the self-accelerating beams. We also discuss the interactions between truncated accelerating beams, which readily generate non-accelerating solitons and soliton pairs. The results indicate that the atomic vapor can serve as a promising medium for the generation of nonlinear self-accelerating beams.
We consider the problem of formation and propagation of optical vortex solitons in hollow-core optical fibres filled with a cold atomic gas for the case of the Raman regime in the Λ-scheme of interaction subject to the Lorentz local field effects and in the presence of optical and atomic perturbations. We shows that the coherent optical control by pump beam in such an atomic medium leads to effective development of dynamical equilibrium of diffraction, nonlinear and dissipative processes necessary to stabilize dissipative vortex solitons. We demonstrate that the generation of acoustic waves even with small amplitudes in the fiber can quickly destroy the soliton mode.
There are several nonlinear optical processes that can lead to instabilities in a laser beam as it propagates through a nonlinear optical medium. Self focusing effects, for instance, can lead to the growth of new spatial frequency components in a laser beam. A laser beam can also be unstable to the growth of new spectral components. Stimulated Raman scattering is a well-known example of a process that can lead to this sort of instability. In this paper, we present the results of a series of experiments on the somewhat different instabilities that occur for the case of the propagation of a laser beam through an atomic vapor. We find that these instabilities become particularly pronounced when the frequency of the incident laser is near to that of a one- or two-photon resonance of the atom. In either case, we find that the laser beam is unstable to the growth of new frequency components, and that in general these new frequencies are not emitted collinearly with the incident laser. These instabilities are important because they place a limit on the laser intensity that can be used to drive nonlinear optical processes.