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arXiv:solv-int/9709002 · Physical Review A

Field theory for coherent optical pulse propagation

Q‐Han Park, Hyung‐Joon Shin

Published Jun 1, 1998• 27 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We introduce a notion of ``matrix potential'' to nonlinear optical systems. In terms of a matrix potential $g$, we present a gauge-field-theoretic formulation of the Maxwell-Bloch equation that provides a semiclassical description of the propagation of optical pulses through resonant multilevel media. We show that the Bloch part of the equation can be solved identically through $g$ and the remaining Maxwell equation becomes a second-order differential equation with a reduced set of variables due to the gauge invariance of the system. Our formulation clarifies the (non-Abelian) symmetry structure of the Maxwell-Bloch equations for various multilevel media in association with symmetric spaces $G/H$. In particular, we associate the nondegenerate two-level system for self-induced transparency with $G/H=\mathrm{SU}(2)/\mathrm{U}(1)$ and three-level $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ or $V$ systems with $G/H=\mathrm{SU}(3)/\mathrm{U}(2)$. We give a detailed analysis for the two-level case in the matrix potential formalism, and address various properties of the system including soliton numbers, effective potential energy, gauge and discrete symmetries, modified pulse area, conserved topological, and nontopological charges. The nontopological charge measures the amount of self-detuning of each pulse. Its conservation law leads to a different type of pulse stability analysis that explains earlier numerical results.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.57.4621

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We introduce a notion of ``matrix potential'' to nonlinear optical systems. In terms of a matrix potential ggg, we present a gauge-field-theoretic formulation of the Maxwell-Bloch equation that provides a semiclassical description of the propagation of optical pulses through resonant multilevel media. We show that the Bloch part of the equation can be solved identically through ggg and the remaining Maxwell equation becomes a second-order differential equation with a reduced set of variables due to the gauge invariance of the system. Our formulation clarifies the (non-Abelian) symmetry structure of the Maxwell-Bloch equations for various multilevel media in association with symmetric spaces G/HG/HG/H. In particular, we associate the nondegenerate two-level system for self-induced transparency with G/H=SU(2)/U(1)G/H=\mathrm{SU}(2)/\mathrm{U}(1)G/H=SU(2)/U(1) and three-level \ensuremathΛ\ensuremath{\Lambda}\ensuremathΛ or VVV systems with G/H=SU(3)/U(2)G/H=\mathrm{SU}(3)/\mathrm{U}(2)G/H=SU(3)/U(2). We give a detailed analysis for the two-level case in the matrix potential formalism, and address various properties of the system including soliton numbers, effective potential energy, gauge and discrete symmetries, modified pulse area, conserved topological, and nontopological charges. The nontopological charge measures the amount of self-detuning of each pulse. Its conservation law leads to a different type of pulse stability analysis that explains earlier numerical results.
Hidden nonabelian symmetries in nonlinear interactions of radiation with matter are clarified. In terms of a nonabelian potential variable, we construct an effective field theory of self-induced transparency, a phenomenon of lossless coherent pulse propagation, in association with Hermitian symmetric spaces G/HG/HG/H. Various new properties of self-induced transparency, e.g. soliton numbers, effective potential energy, gauge symmetry and discrete symmetries, modified pulse area, conserved U(1)U(1)U(1)-charge etc. are addressed and elaborated in the nondegenerate two-level case where G/H=SU(2)/U(1)G/H = SU(2)/U(1)G/H=SU(2)/U(1). Using the U(1)U(1)U(1)-charge conservation, a new type of analysis on pulse stability is given which agrees with earlier numerical results.
We extend to more than one spatial dimension the semiclassical full-wave vector Maxwell-Bloch equations for the purpose of achieving an adequate and rigorous description of ultrashort pulse propagation in optical waveguides containing resonant nonlinearities. Our considerations are based on the generalized pseudospin formalism introduced by Hioe and Eberly [Phys. Rev. Lett. 47, 838 (1981)] for treatment of the resonant coherent interactions of ultrashort light pulses with discrete-multilevel systems. A self-consistent set of coupled curl Maxwell-pseudospin equations in two spatial dimensions and time for the special case of a degenerate three-level system of quantum absorbers is originally derived. Maxwell's curl equations are considered to be coupled via macroscopic medium polarization to the three-level atom model for the resonant medium. Two distinct sets of pseudospin equations are obtained corresponding to the TE- and TM-polarized optical waves. For the case of TM polarization, the electromagnetic wave is polarized in a general direction in the plane of incidence inducing two dipole transitions in a degenerate three-level system by each E-field component along the propagation axis and in transverse direction. We introduce a dipole-coupling interaction Hamiltonian allowing Rabi flopping of the population difference along and perpendicular to the propagation axis with frequencies depending on the corresponding field components. The relationship between the induced polarization and the state vector components that describe the evolution of the discrete-level system is derived in order to couple the quantum system equations to the Maxwell's curl equations. The pseudospin equations are phenomenologically extended to include relaxation effects by introducing nonuniform decay times corresponding to the various dipole transitions occurring in a three-level system. The system has been discretized using finite differences on a Yee grid and solved numerically by an iterative predictor-corrector finite-difference time-domain method. Self-induced transparency soliton propagation through a degenerate three-level quantum system of absorbers in two spatial dimensions and time is demonstrated in planar parallel-mirror waveguide geometries.
The coherent propagation of two optical short pulses through a resonant medium consisting of two three-level atoms in the configuration is investigated. A self-consisting analytical solution without steady state or adiabatic approximations is presented. The electric field in the model studied consists of two co-propagating plane waves, each of which is in near resonance with a transition in the absorber. The density matrix of two three level atoms is studied. Also, the reduced density matrices are stated. The present approach for the semiclassical treatment of resonant coherent interactions in three-level atoms represents a generalization of the Maxwell- Bloch equations for a two-level system. The Maxwell-Bloch equations reduced to the non-linear pendulum equation. The solution shows that the two pulses can propagate simultaneously without loss under some conditions about the pulses and the medium. The propagation of the two pulses through the medium without any constrains approves the self -induced transparency (SIT) phenomenon.
The phenomenon that describes the effect of a coherent medium response to an incident electric field, to which the medium is totally transparent and which undergoes lossless propagation, is known as self-induced transparency (SIT). SIT was first discovered by McCall and Hahn (1969) in the case of nondegenerate two-level atoms. Special solutions for the two-level system were found by Lamb (1971), while the initial value problem for the propagation of a pulse through a resonant two-level optical medium was solved by Inverse Scattering Transform (IST) in [1, 2]. It is possible to formulate the SIT equations in the framework of the IST also in the case of a three-level system, as in [3]. While the associated scattering problem is the same as for the coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equation, the time evolution depends on asymptotic values of the material polarizability envelopes and is highly non-trivial. This talk will address the solution of the initial value problem for the SIT equations for three level systems, for generic preparation of the medium, and
We propose and develop a method for theoretical description of circularly (elliptically) polarized optical pulse resonant coherent interactions with two-level atoms. The method is based on the time-evolution equations of a two-level quantum system in the presence of a time-dependent dipole perturbation for electric dipole transitions between states with total angular-momentum projection difference $(\ensuremath{\Delta}{J}_{z}=\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1)$ excited by a circularly polarized electromagnetic field [Feynman et al., J. Appl. Phys. 28, 49 (1957)]. The adopted real-vector representation approach allows for coupling with the vectorial Maxwell's equations for the optical wave propagation and thus the resulting Maxwell pseudospin equations can be numerically solved in the time domain without any approximations. The model permits a more exact study of the ultrafast coherent pulse propagation effects taking into account the vector nature of the electromagnetic field and hence the polarization state of the optical excitation. We demonstrate self-induced transparency effects and formation of polarized solitons. The model represents a qualitative extension of the well-known optical Maxwell-Bloch equations valid for linearly polarized light and a tool for studying coherent quantum control mechanisms.