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:quant-ph/9907032 · Physical Review Letters

Threshold and Linewidth of a Mirrorless Parametric Oscillator

Michael Fleischhauer, Mikhail D. Lukin, Andrey B. Matsko, Marlan O. Scully

Published Apr 17, 2000• 34 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We analyze the above-threshold behavior of a mirrorless parametric oscillator based on resonantly enhanced four-wave mixing in a dense atomic vapor. It is shown that, in the ideal limit, an arbitrary small flux of pump photons is sufficient to reach the oscillator threshold. We demonstrate that, due to the large group velocity delays associated with electromagnetically induced transparency, an extremely narrow oscillator linewidth is possible, making a narrow-band source of nonclassical radiation feasible.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.84.3558

Related papers

Mirrorless Optical Parametric Oscillation with Tunable Threshold in Cold Atoms

Yefeng Mei, Xianxin Guo, Luwei Zhao +1 more

We report the demonstration of a mirrorless optical parametric oscillator with a tunable threshold in laser-cooled atoms with four-wave mixing (FWM) using electromagnetically induced transparency. Driven by two classical laser beams, the generated Stokes and anti-Stokes fields counterpropagate and build up efficient intrinsic feedback through the nonlinear FWM process. This feedback does not involve any cavity or spatially distributed microstructures. We observe the transition of photon correlation properties from the biphoton quantum regime (below the threshold) to the oscillation regime (above the threshold). The pump threshold can be tuned by varying the operating parameters. We achieve the oscillation with a threshold as low as 15 μW.

Physical Review Letters•Oct 13, 2017•10 citations

Large enhancement of four-wave mixing by suppression of photon absorption from electromagnetically induced transparency

Ying Wu, Joseph Saldana, Yifu Zhu

We analyze a four-wave-mixing (FWM) scheme in a five-level atomic system based on electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). We show that EIT suppresses both two-photon and three-photon absorptions in the FWM scheme and enables the four-wave mixing to proceed through real, resonant intermediate states without absorption loss. The scheme results in a several orders of magnitude increase in the FWM efficiency in comparison with a recent scheme [Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 143902 (2002)] and may be used for generating short-wavelength radiation at low pump intensities.

Physical Review A•Jan 28, 2003•424 citations

Role of electromagnetically induced transparency in resonant four-wave-mixing schemes

Jon C. Petch, Christoph H. Keitel, P. L. Knight +1 more

The effect of electromagnetically induced transparency in resonant four-wave-mixing schemes is investigated in an analysis that goes beyond perturbation theory in the coherent driving field. In addition we examine the case where the two-photon pump field is sufficiently strong to necessitate a nonperturbative treatment. This allows us to examine the cases where either one or both of the driving fields are strong. Phase matching is included in a plane-wave propagation treatment that matches the situation most likely to be encountered in actual experiments. The calculations are in part intended to model real experimental situations and thus incorporate driving and pump-field linewidths via the phase-diffusion model and Doppler broadening. With a strong pump-field laser, large enhancements in the efficiency of light generation occur at frequencies corresponding to the Autler-Townes satellites induced by the strong driving field. In this situation gain and high four-wave-mixing efficiency are simultaneously present, resulting in the production of a large intensity of coherent radiation. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.

Physical Review A•Jan 1, 1996•102 citations

A resonantly enhanced four-wave parametric oscillator

Michael J. Pellin, James T. Yardley

The pump intensity required to achieve operation of an optical parametric oscillator based upon a resonantly enhanced four-wave mixing process is examined. The effects of a finite phase mismatch and of absorption of the generated waves are treated. Numerical calculations for an atomic system (Na) and two molecular systems (HCl, CO) reveal acceptably low pump intensity requirements and suggest that such a device is potentially an efficient, scalable source of tunable coherent radiation.

IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics•Nov 1, 1977•8 citations

Opening Optical Four-Wave Mixing Channels with Giant Enhancement Using Ultraslow Pump Waves

Li Deng, Mikio Kozuma, E. W. Hagley +1 more

We show that by strongly modifying the dispersion properties of a four-level system, non-existing wave mixing channels can be opened and significantly enhanced. Specifically, we show that coherent optical four-wave mixing with a pump wave mediated by electromagnetically induced transparency (thereby propagating with an extremely slow group velocity) will lead to many orders of magnitude enhancement in the amplitude of the generated wave. Contrary to common belief, a large transparency window, which causes a large propagation velocity, actually diminishes efficient mixing wave production.

Physical Review Letters•Mar 20, 2002•147 citations

Experimental Generation of Narrow-Band Paired Photons: from Damped Rabi Oscillation to Group Delay

Kai-Yu Liao, Hui Yan, J. He +3 more

We report the experimental generation of narrow-band paired photons through electromagnetically induced transparency and spontaneous four-wave mixing in a two-dimensional magneto-optical trap (2D MOT). By controlling the optical depth of the 2D MOT from 0 to 40, the temporal length of the generated narrow-band paired photons can be varied from 50 to 900 ns. The ‘transition’ between damped Rabi oscillation and group delay is observed undisputedly. In the damped Rabi oscillation regime, a violation factor of the Cauchy—Schwartz inequality as large as 6642 is observed. In the group delay regime, sub-MHz linewidth (∼ 0.65 MHz) paired photons are obtained with a generation rate of about 0.8 × 10 5 s −1 .

Chinese Physics Letters•Mar 1, 2014•6 citations
We analyze the above-threshold behavior of a mirrorless parametric oscillator based on resonantly enhanced four-wave mixing in a dense atomic vapor. It is shown that, in the ideal limit, an arbitrary small flux of pump photons is sufficient to reach the oscillator threshold. We demonstrate that, due to the large group velocity delays associated with electromagnetically induced transparency, an extremely narrow oscillator linewidth is possible, making a narrow-band source of nonclassical radiation feasible.
We report the demonstration of a mirrorless optical parametric oscillator with a tunable threshold in laser-cooled atoms with four-wave mixing (FWM) using electromagnetically induced transparency. Driven by two classical laser beams, the generated Stokes and anti-Stokes fields counterpropagate and build up efficient intrinsic feedback through the nonlinear FWM process. This feedback does not involve any cavity or spatially distributed microstructures. We observe the transition of photon correlation properties from the biphoton quantum regime (below the threshold) to the oscillation regime (above the threshold). The pump threshold can be tuned by varying the operating parameters. We achieve the oscillation with a threshold as low as 15 μW.
We analyze a four-wave-mixing (FWM) scheme in a five-level atomic system based on electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). We show that EIT suppresses both two-photon and three-photon absorptions in the FWM scheme and enables the four-wave mixing to proceed through real, resonant intermediate states without absorption loss. The scheme results in a several orders of magnitude increase in the FWM efficiency in comparison with a recent scheme [Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 143902 (2002)] and may be used for generating short-wavelength radiation at low pump intensities.
The effect of electromagnetically induced transparency in resonant four-wave-mixing schemes is investigated in an analysis that goes beyond perturbation theory in the coherent driving field. In addition we examine the case where the two-photon pump field is sufficiently strong to necessitate a nonperturbative treatment. This allows us to examine the cases where either one or both of the driving fields are strong. Phase matching is included in a plane-wave propagation treatment that matches the situation most likely to be encountered in actual experiments. The calculations are in part intended to model real experimental situations and thus incorporate driving and pump-field linewidths via the phase-diffusion model and Doppler broadening. With a strong pump-field laser, large enhancements in the efficiency of light generation occur at frequencies corresponding to the Autler-Townes satellites induced by the strong driving field. In this situation gain and high four-wave-mixing efficiency are simultaneously present, resulting in the production of a large intensity of coherent radiation. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
We show that by strongly modifying the dispersion properties of a four-level system, non-existing wave mixing channels can be opened and significantly enhanced. Specifically, we show that coherent optical four-wave mixing with a pump wave mediated by electromagnetically induced transparency (thereby propagating with an extremely slow group velocity) will lead to many orders of magnitude enhancement in the amplitude of the generated wave. Contrary to common belief, a large transparency window, which causes a large propagation velocity, actually diminishes efficient mixing wave production.
We report the experimental generation of narrow-band paired photons through electromagnetically induced transparency and spontaneous four-wave mixing in a two-dimensional magneto-optical trap (2D MOT). By controlling the optical depth of the 2D MOT from 0 to 40, the temporal length of the generated narrow-band paired photons can be varied from 50 to 900 ns. The ‘transition’ between damped Rabi oscillation and group delay is observed undisputedly. In the damped Rabi oscillation regime, a violation factor of the Cauchy—Schwartz inequality as large as 6642 is observed. In the group delay regime, sub-MHz linewidth (∼ 0.65 MHz) paired photons are obtained with a generation rate of about 0.8 × 10 5 s −1 .