Phase-Controlled Transparent Superluminal Light Propagation in a Doppler-Broadened Four-Level N-Type System

The propagation of a weak probe field in a four-level N-type quantum system in the presence of spontaneously generated coherence(SGC) is theoretically investigated. The optical properties of the system are studied and it is shown that the group velocity of light pulse can be controlled by relative phase of applied fields. By changing the relative phase of applied fields, the group velocity of light pulse changes from transparent subluminal to the transparent superluminal light propagation. Thus, the phase-controlled absorption-free superluminal light propagation is obtained without applying an incoherent laser fields to the system. The propagation of a weak probe light pulse is studied by solving the Maxwell's wave equation on numerical grid in space and time. Moreover, we study the third order self- and cross-Kerr susceptibility of probe field and calculate the nonlinear cross-phase shift for different values of intensity of applied fields. In addition, we take into account the effect of Doppler broadening on the light pulse propagation and it is found that a suitable choice of laser propagation directions allows us to preserve our results even in the presence of Doppler effect. It is demonstrated that by increasing the Doppler width of distribution to the room temperature,the dispersion changes from transparent subluminal to transparent superluminal light propagation which is our major motivation for this work.     

Group velocity of the light pulse in an open V-type system

We investigate the group velocity of the probe light pulse in an open V-type system with spontaneously generated coherence. We find that, not only varying the relative phase between the probe and driving pulses can but varying the atomic exit rate or incoherent pumping rate also can manipulate dramatically the group velocity, even make the pulse propagation switching from subluminal to superluminal; the subliminal propagation can be companied with gain or absorption, but the superluminal propagation is always companied with absorption.     

Absorption-free superluminal light propagation in a quantum-dot molecule

The propagation of a weak probe field in a three-level quantum-dot molecule is investigated by employing the tunnel coupling. It is shown that in the absence of tunnel coupling, the propagation of light pulse is superluminal, similar to a simple two-level system. A high-resolution dip appears in optical spectra due to the presence of tunnel coupling. We show that this narrow dip leads to the subluminal light propagation with doublet absorption, so the group velocity of a light pulse can be controlled by interdot tunnel coupling. It is also demonstrated that by applying an indirect incoherent pumping field to the probe transition, the absorption doublet switches to the gain doublet and then the absorption-free superluminal light propagation is appeared.     

Absorption-free superluminal light propagation in a quantum-dot molecule

The propagation of a weak probe field in a three-level quantum-dot molecule is investigated by employing the tunnel coupling. It is shown that in the absence of tunnel coupling, the propagation of light pulse is superluminal, similar to a simple two-level system. A high-resolution dip appears in optical spectra due to the presence of tunnel coupling. We show that this narrow dip leads to the subluminal light propagation with doublet absorption, so the group velocity of a light pulse can be controlled by interdot tunnel coupling. It is also demonstrated that by applying an indirect incoherent pumping field to the probe transition, the absorption doublet switches to the gain doublet and then the absorption-free superluminal light propagation is appeared.     

Light propagation from subluminal to superluminal in a three-level Λ-type system

We show that the group velocity of a weak electromagnetic pulse can be manipulated by adjusting the relative phase of the probing and the pumping fields applied to a Λ-type three-level system, whose two lower states are coupled by an external control magnetic field. Such control field can, in principle, cause the light propagation to be changed from subluminal to superluminal by modulating the relative phase. The same effect can be obtained by varying the intensities of the pumping and the control magnetic fields, but it is different with Agarwal's [Phys. Rev. A 64 (2001) 053809]. The effect of Doppler broadening on the dispersion is also investigated.     

SGC Switching Between Subluminal to Superluminal Propagation in V-Type Atom

For a V-type three-level atomic system with two closely spaced upper levels, we investigate the light pulse propagation properties with only one laser field. Due to spontaneously generated coherence, the group velocity of the light pulse can be changed from subluminal to superluminal. The effects of the field intensity and the two-upper level splitting on the group velocity are also shown. At last, an analytical expression for the group velocity is given in the case of a weak field.     

SGC Switching Between Subluminal to Superluminal Propagation in V-Type Atom

For a V-type three-level atomic system with two closely spaced upper levels, we investigate the light pulse propagation properties with only one laser field. Due to spontaneously generated coherence, the group velocity of the light pulse can be changed from subluminal to superluminal. The effects of the field intensity and the two-upper level splitting on the group velocity are also shown. At last, an analytical expression for the group velocity is given in the case of a weak field.     

Subluminal and Superluminal Phenomena in a Four-Level Atom

In a four-level atomic system, we investigate the light pulse propagation properties interacting with only one laser field. It is shown that in the steady state, the group velocity of the light pulse can be changed from subluminal to superluminal by varying the field detuning. Meanwhile, the effects of the field intensity on the group velocity are also shown. At last, with special parameters, the analytical solution for the group index is also obtained.     

What causes the superluminal propagation of light pulses

In this paper, we discuss what causes the superluminal propagation of a pulse through dispersion bysolving Maxwell's equations without any approximation. The coherence of the pulse plays an importantrole for superluminal propagation. When the pulse becomes partially coherent,the propagation changesfrom superluminal to subluminal. The energy velocity is always less than the vacuum velocity.The shapeof the pulse is changed during the propagation.     

Transient dispersion and absorption in a V-shaped atomic system

We investigate the dynamical behavior of the dispersion and the absorption in a V-type three level atomic system. It is shown that in the presence of decay-induced interference the probe dispersion and absorption are phase dependent. We find that an incoherent pumping field provides an additional control parameter for switching the group velocity of a light pulse. The required switching times for switching the group velocity of a probe field from subluminal to superluminal pulse propagation is then discussed.     

Phase control of group velocity in one-dimensional photonic crystal with a dispersive defect layer

Propagation of an electromagnetic pulse through one-dimensional photonic crystal doped with three-level ο-type atomic systems is discussed. It is found that in the presence of quantum interference and incoherent pump, the transmitted pulse becomes completely phase dependent. So, the group velocity of the transmitted pulse can be switched from subluminal to superluminal light propagation just by adjusting the relative phase of applied fields.     

Controlling subluminal to superluminal behavior of group velocity in an f-deformed Bose-Einstein condensate beyond the rotating wave approximation

In this paper, we investigate tunable control of the group velocity of a weak probe field propagating through an f-deformed Bose-Einstein condensate of Λ-type three-level atoms beyond the rotating wave approximation. For this purpose, we use an f-deformed generalization of an effective two-level quantum model of the three-level Λ-configuration without the rotating wave approximation in which the Gardiner’s phonon operators for Bose-Einstein condensate are deformed by an operator-valued function, , of the particle-number operator . We consider the collisions between the atoms as a special kind of f-deformation where the collision rate κ is regarded as the deformation parameter. We demonstrate the enhanced effect of subluminal and superluminal propagation based on electromagnetically induced transparency and electromagnetically induced absorption, respectively. In particular, we find that (i) the absorptive and dispersive properties of the deformed condensate can be controlled effectively in the absence of the rotating wave approximation by changing the deformation parameter κ, the total number of atoms and the counter-rotating terms parameter λ, (ii) by increasing the values of λ, κ and η = 1/N, the group velocity of the probe pulse changes, from subluminal to superluminal and (iii) beyond the rotating wave approximation, the subluminal and superluminal behaviors of the probe field are enhanced.     

Measurement of net group and reshaping delays for optical pulses in dispersive media

We experimentally demonstrate the direct measurement of net group and reshaping delays for arbitrary optical pulses in dispersive media, verifying the earlier prediction of Peatross et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 2370 (2000)]. Incoherent pulse propagation in an absorptionless system is well described by net group delay; even the medium causes a great deal of deformation in the transmitted pulse. However, in the case of phase modulated chirping pulses in a resonant absorber, the so-called superluminal or subluminal propagation velocity is strongly influenced by the reshaping delay.     

光子晶体中缺陷的色散导致的群速度降低

利用传输矩阵方法计算了包含色散媒质缺陷的一维光子晶体的复透射系数，其中色散媒质用洛仑兹振子模型描述。计算了由复透射系数定义的等效复折射率并由此研究了频谱位于缺陷模频率附近的光脉冲的群速度。结果发现，由于缺陷模附近的透射谱敏感地依赖于缺陷层的光学厚度，而缺陷层的色散使缺陷层光学厚度随频率变化而改变，从而使包含缺陷的光子晶体的等效色散性质明显地依赖于缺陷的色散行为。由于光脉冲是由多种频率成分的单色场迭加构成的，透射脉冲由各单色场透射后重新迭加构成，因此波包的传播由介质的等效色散性质决定。与包含无色散缺陷的光子晶体相比，缺陷的色散可导致极慢的群速度。通过改变振子强度，群速度可从极慢光速转变为超光速(superluminal)。     

Dispersive and absorptive properties of a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Λ</Emphasis>-type atomic system with two fold lower-levels

The dispersion and the absorption properties of a driven four-level Λ-type atomic system is investigated. It is found that the interaction of double-dark states lead to controllable group velocity of the weak probe field by the intensity of driving field and the relative phase between applied fields. Moreover, the transient dispersion, absorption and the group index are also discussed. The required switching time for switching the group velocity of a weak probe field from subluminal to superluminal pulse propagation is then discussed.     

On coherently driven group index of probe pulse at double-frequency regimes: An analytical formulation

The group index and its lineshape of a relatively weak double-resonance probe pulse (signal) propagates through an open doubly driven N-type five-level atomic system are analytically formulated. It is shown that the signal can be controlled by manipulating the driving contribution of the two coupling fields, so that both superluminal and subluminal propagation can take place simultaneously at two different (probe field induced transition) frequency regimes with reduced absorption/gain. Hence the proposed double-control scheme may be exploited to observe the double-switching effect (i.e. from superluminal to subluminal and vice versa) with negligible distortion. In our realization this double-controlling mechanism may be regarded as simultaneous tuning of two knobs, to regulate the group index of the signal at double-frequency regimes.     

Control of light pulse propagation with only a few cold atoms in a high-finesse microcavity

Propagation of a light pulse through a high-Q optical microcavity containing a few cold atoms (N<10) in its cavity mode is investigated experimentally. With less than ten cold rubidium atoms launched into an optical microcavity, up to 170 ns propagation lead time ("superluminal"), and 440 ns propagation delay time (subluminal) are observed. Comparison of the experimental data with numerical simulations as well as future experiments are discussed.     

Roles of Atomic Injection Rate and External Magnetic Field on Optical Properties of Elliptical Polarized Probe Light

In this paper we investigate the optical properties of an open four-level tripod atomic system driven by an elliptically polarized probe field in the presence of the external magnetic field and compare its properties with the corresponding closed system.Our result reveals that absorption,dispersion and group velocity of probe field can be manipulated by adjusting the phase difference between the two circularly polarized components of a single coherent field,magnetic field and cavity parameters i.e.the atomic exit rate from cavity and atomic injection rates.We show that the system can exhibit multiple electromagnetically induced transparency windows in the presence of the external magnetic field.The numerical result shows that the probe field in the open system can be amplified by appropriate choice of cavity parameters,while in the closed system with introduce appropriate phase difference between fields the probe field can be enhanced.Also it is shown that the group velocity of light pulse can be controlled by external magnetic field,relative phase of applied fields and cavity parameters.By changing the parameters the group velocity of light pulse changes from subluminal to superluminal light propagation and vice versa.     

超光速群速度与信息传输的有效速度

研究了反常色散介质中脉冲形变对超光速群速度的影响,发现即使光脉冲完全不产生形变群速度仍会超过真空中的光速。但波包的群速度并不等同于信号的传输速度,采用信息论方法,定义了信号的有效传输速度,并用于解释WKD(Wang,Kuzmich,Dogariu)实验。通过计算入射光与出射光信号所携带的信息量,发现由于光的波动衍射及光子散粒噪声的影响,出射光所携带的信息量会损失,使得光信号的有效传播速度不会超过真空中的光速。     

Ultraslow Gaussian pulse propagation induced by a dispersive phase coupling in photorefractive bismuth silicon oxide crystals at room temperature

By use of the highly dispersive phase coupling effect in a photorefractive wave mixing process, we have observed ultraslow propagation of a single Gaussian light pulse with a group velocity ∼0.5 m/s in a photorefractive Bi₁₂SiO₂₀ crystal at room temperature. The ultraslow Gaussian pulse is amplified due to an intensity coupling effect but keeping its Gaussian profile with high fidelity. The group velocity of the Gaussian pulse can be controlled to a large extent. This technique is useful for controllable optical delay lines.