Düsseldorf 2007 – scientific programme
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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik
Q 15: Nichtlineare optische Effekte und Lichtquellen III
Q 15.2: Talk
Monday, March 19, 2007, 16:45–17:00, 5J
Phase-dependent light propagation in atomic vapors — •Sarah Kajari-Schröder1, Giovanna Morigi2, Sonja Franke-Arnold3, and Gian-Luca Oppo4 — 1Institut für Quantenphysik, University of Ulm, D-89069 Ulm, Germany — 2Grup d’Optica, Departament de Fisica, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain — 3Department of Physics, University of Glasgow, G12 8QQ Glasgow, Scotland, U.K. — 4Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, G14 0NG Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
We analyse the propagation of light in an atomic medium whose coupled energy levels form a ♦-configuration. This atomic configuration is characterised by a closed cycle of radiation-induced transitions, hence its dynamics and steady-state depend critically on the relative phase between the driving lasers [1]. In fact, depending on the phase at the input, the response of the medium can vary from opaque to semi-transparent, as coherences form due to interference in the atomic excitations [2]. Alkali-earth atoms with zero nuclear spin are ideal candidates for observing these phenomena which could offer new perspectives in control techniques in quantum electronics.
[1] G. Morigi et al., Phys. Rev. A 66, 053409 (2002)
[2] S. Kajari-Schröder et al., physics/0605176