Slow-light six-wave mixing at low light intensities

We report an experimental study of resonant six-wave mixing in coherently prepared Rb atoms. Electromagnetically induced transparency in a four-level atomic system suppresses the linear susceptibility and enhances the nonlinear susceptibilities, which leads to the resonantly enhanced, slow-photon six-wave mixing at low light intensities. The light emission in the six-wave mixing process can be viewed as resulting from diffraction of slow light off a resonant nonlinear grating induced in the four-level system by a standing-wave pump field.     

光学外差法测量Ba原子的自电离态

提出了把三光子共振非简并六波混频(NSWM)和双光子共振非简并四波混频(NFWM)应用于研究Ba原子自电离态的光学外差探测方法。采用该方法测量了Ba原子的6P_３／２19d自电离态,并观察到了三光子共振 NSWM和双光子共振NFWM信号干涉引起的信号增强。该方法是一种纯非线性光学方法,具有优秀的空间分辨率和简单的光路。其中双光子共振非简并四波混频信号作为本地振荡光束,三光子共振非简并六波混频信号作为信号光束,通过 改变信号光束的频率来达到用光学外差探测法研究Ba原子自电离态的目的。该方法中,实现相位匹配所要求的条件不是很严格,可以在很宽的频率范围内实现相位匹配,而一般的六波混频很难做到相位匹配, 并且所测量的信号是相干光, 当用窄带宽的激光时,可以获得消多普勒的分辨率。     

消多普勒三光子共振六波混频

研究多普勒系统中的位相共轭三光子共振六波混频(SWM).得到当入射激光为窄带线宽时，SWM频谱是消多普勒的，因此可成为一种研究原子或分子高激发态和高角动量态的高分辨相干非线性光谱学.本方法还具有位相匹配条件不严格，有良好的空间分辨率，光路配置简单等优点. 关键词： 六波混频 多普勒效应     

Autler–Townes spectroscopy of high-lying state by phase conjugate six-wave mixing

An Autler-Townes(AT) spectroscopy based on phase conjugate six-wave mixing(SWM) is proposed to detect AT doublet of high-lying state in a Doppler-broadened cascade four-level system.It is found that the SWM spectrum is dependent strongly on the ratios between the magnitudes of the wave vectors.We discuss how the Doppler broadening affects the SWM spectrum from a time-domain viewpoint and find that,due the atomic motion,the atomic polarizations acquire different phases for atoms with different velocities as time evolves.The Doppler free SWM spectrum can be obtained only when the atomic polarization can be rephasing again at certain time after the interactions of all the incident fields.     

中间态引入量子干涉的三光子共振非简并六波混频

理论研究了五能级系统中三光子共振非简并六波混频(NSWM) 由于中间能级加入耦合光场而产生的量子干涉效应. 分析了耦合光场对三光子共振NSWM信号以及频谱的影响. 研究发现, 在强耦合场作用下, NSWM的频谱出现了Autler-Townes分裂, 它反映的是两个缀饰态的能级, 量子干涉可以使NSWM信号被抑制或增强. 提出利用量子干涉对NSWM信号产生增强作用, 可以由耦合场产生的缀饰态代替原子固有能级, 成为三光子共振的中间态, 从而控制耦合场来选择三光子共振的中间态的位置.     

Opening four-wave mixing and six-wave mixing channels via dual electromagnetically induced transparency windows

Highly efficient four-wave mixing (FWM) and six-wave mixing (SWM) processes can coexist in a four-level Y-type atomic system due to atomic coherence. The simultaneously opened dual electromagnetically induced transparency windows in this four-level atomic system allow observation of these two nonlinear optical processes at the same time, which enables detailed studies of the interplay between the FWM and SWM processes. Three-photon and five-photon destructive interferences are also observed.     

Four-wave mixing and six-wave mixing in a four-level confined atomic system

We have investigated coexisting four-wave mixing and six-wave mixing (SWM) in ultra-thin, micrometre and long vapour cells. There exists competition between Dicke-narrowing features and polarization interference in the micrometre cell. The oscillation behaviour of SWM signal intensities and linewidths results from destructive interference. With a larger destructive interference, the SWM signal in ultra-thin cells shows a narrow spectrum, in contrast to the long cell case. Due to the Dicke-narrowing features, a narrow spectrum can be obtained, and such spectra can be used for high precision measurements and metrological standards.     

Competition between Dispersion and Absorption of Doubly-Dressed Four-Wave Mixing and Dressed Six-Wave Mixing

We study the competition between dispersion and absorption of doubly-dressed four-wave mixing （DDFWM） and dressed six-wave mixing. In the case of weak coupling fields limit, we find DDFWM signal is affected by destructive interference between four-wave mixing（FWM） and six-wave mixing as wen as constructive interference between FWM and eight-wave mixing. By analysing the difference between two kinds of doubly dressing mechanisms （parallel cascade and nested cascade） in this opening five-level system, we can further understand the generated high-order nonlinear optical signal dressed by multi-fields.     

Coexisting four-wave mixing and six-wave mixing in three-level atomic system

We demonstrate the coexisting four-wave mixing (FWM) signal and six-wave mixing (SWM) signal which can be enhanced both by electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and optical pumping effect in a common three-level and open four-level inverted-Y type systems of ⁸⁵Rb. We also analyze the effect of optical pumping in different energy level systems by arranging laser beams and comparing the strength of the increased and reduced absorption caused by optical pumping.     

Dressed multi-wave mixing in a V-type four-level atomic system

The dressed four- and six-wave mixings in a V-type four-level system are considered. Under two different dressed conditions, two- and three-photon resonant Autler--Townes splittings, accompanied by enhancement and suppression of wave mixing signal, are obtained analytically. Meanwhile, an electromagnetic induced transparency of multi-wave mixing is presented, which shows multiple peaks and asymmetric effects caused by one-photon, two-photon and three-photon resonances, separately. The slow light propagation multiple region of multi-wave mixing signal is also obtained.     

Spatial interference between four- and six-wave mixing signals

We experimentally demonstrate spatial interference between simultaneously generated four-wave mixing (FWM) and six-wave mixing (SWM) signals in a multilevel atomic system. By tuning the relative phase between the FWM and SWM processes the relative strengths between these two high-order nonlinear optical processes can be investigated.     

Highly efficient four-wave mixing induced by quantum constructive interference in rubidium vapour

We demonstrate efficient four-wave mixing with an intensity conversion efficiency of nearly 100% in theory without considering the Doppler-broadening effect in a four-level double-Λ system of hot ⁸⁷Rb gas. The corresponding experimental value of about 73% was reported in our earlier work under the same conditions. This dramatic efficiency is critically dependent on the constructive interference between two four-wave mixing processes relevant to the internally generated four-wave mixing signal.     

Polarization interference of multi-wave mixing in a confined five-level system

We investigated the coexisting four-wave mixing, six-wave mixing and eight-wave mixing in ultra-thin, micrometer and long cells. Such multi-wave mixing (MWM) processes can be modified by the polarization interference. The degree of destructive interference of atomic polarizations can be controlled by the wave vector, dressing field and cell length. Specifically, the oscillation behavior of intensity and linewidth of MWM signal results from the destructive interference in ultra-thin cell. For a doubly-dressed four-wave mixing, the inner dressing field suppresses the destructive polarization interference in micrometer and long cells, induces resonance enhancement. However, the outer dressing field only enhances destructive interference.     

Observation of Quantum Beating from Two Coupled Parametric Six-Wave Mixing Signals in Rb

Two processes of coupled difference-frequency axially phase-matched parametric six-wave mixing are carried out in Rb vapour by two-photon excitation using fs laser pulses, and parametric six-wave mixing signals in the infrared and near infrared regime are detected. The infrared parametric six-wave mixing signals are up-converted into the visible spectral range by sum-frequency mixing with the pump laser in a LiIO₃ crystal. Moreover, quantum beating at 608cm^-1, corresponding to the 7s-5d energy difference in Rb, is observed from the sum-frequency signal at 495nm. As a result, we obtain modulated light signals in the visible, near infrared and infrared spectral ranges, and study the interference between 7s and 5d states of Rb.     

Observation of two multiwave mixing processes via dual optical pumping channels

Based on double optical pumping channels,we experimentally study the competition between two coexistent six-wave mixing(SWM) processes falling into two electromagnetically induced transparency windows by scanning the frequency of the probe field in two similar five-level atomic systems of 85Rb.By blocking one optical pumping channel unrelated to the four-wave mixing(FWM) process,one SWM process,together with the FWM process,generated by a conjugated small-angle static grating could be observed in the spectrum.Moreover,the other SWM process obtained by blocking the first SWM channel is also observed together with the FWM process in a lower N-type four-level subsystem.These experimental results agree well with theoretical predictions.     

铷原子中参量六波混频和量子拍的研究

在铷原子中实现了轴向相位匹配的参量六波混频,并探测到位于红外光谱区的六波混频信号.六波混频信号与泵浦激光进行和频,产生了位于可见光范围内的可调谐的和频信号,并从和频信号中观察到频率为608 cm 1的量子拍.结果表明,六波混频信号中的量子拍能够用于研究原子和分子的相干特性.     

引入量子干涉的双光子共振非简并四波混频

研究了级联四能级系统中双光子共振非简并四波混频(NFWM)由于加入耦合光场而产生的量子干涉效应，发现在强耦合场作用下NFWM频谱呈现AT劈裂，它反映的是两个缀饰态的能级.量子干涉还使NFWM信号被抑制或增强.此方法牵涉到三光子共振，因此可以成为研究原子或分子高激发态的有效光谱学工具. 关键词： 四波混频 量子干涉     

Fully Quantized Theory of Six-Wave Mixing with Matter Waves

We show that Wu-Yang theory of fully quantized four-wave mixing can be generalized to the six-wave mixing and derive the analytical solution of the coupled equations describing the quantum dynamics of six-wave mixing.     

Dynamical effects of the four-wave mixing enhancement induced by constructive quantum interference

In a four-level system of ultracold ⁸⁷Rb atoms, through analytical and numerical calculations we propose an efficient scheme to achieve the enhanced four-wave mixing process and demonstrate its dynamical control by various parameters such as the travel distance z, probe detuning $\delta$ and the probe pulse width $\tau$. In particular, we find that the maximal intensity of the nonlinearly generated signal pulse can be about 80% of the initial input probe under the optimal condition. This greatly enhanced conversion efficiency occurs due to the constructive quantum interference between two different components of the generated signal pulse.     

Observation of spontaneously generated coherence on absorption in rubidium atomic beam

We report the experimental observation of the effect of spontaneously generated coherence on absorption without the rigorous requirement of close-lying levels. The experiments are studied in both a four-level N-type and a four-level inverted-Y-type atomic system in a rubidium atomic beam. With the coupling and controlling field, the N-type system is equivalent to a system with three closely upper levels coupled to one lower level by the same vacuum modes. The quantum interference can induce two prominent and nearly transparent holes where the slope of the refractive index is very steep. This special situation could allow the simultaneous propagation of two weak pulses with different frequencies. When we tune the wavelength of the controlling field, the N-type system turns to be the inverted-Y atomic system. Under the two-photon resonance condition, the system is equivalent to a V-type system with two closely upper levels, and the interference can reduce one broad transparency window in the middle of the absorption spectrum. Besides we can control the number of the spontaneously decay channels by the detuning of the controlling field, thus the effect of spontaneously generated coherence can exist in three or two closely space levels.