Quantum non-demolition measurement of photon number using weak nonlinearities

We propose an alternative method for the quantum non-demolition measurement of photon numbers wherein weak cross-Kerr nonlinearities are to be used. The usual approach to quantum non-demolition measurements of quantum number involves encoding the photon number, through a cross-Kerr interaction, into a phase shift of a probe coherent state which is then detected through balanced homodyning. Weak nonlinearities produce small phase shifts which are difficult to detect and distinguish. In the method we propose, unbalanced homodyning acts as a displacement operator on the probe beam coherent state such that the cross-Kerr interaction encodes the photon number into the amplitude of a new coherent state. The value of the photon number can be determined by inefficient photon counting on the new coherent state. Our proposed method requires fewer resources than does the usual approach.     

Achievement of Narrow-Band CARS Signal by Manipulating Broad-band Laser Spectrum

We theoretically demonstrate the achievement of narrow-band coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering （CARS） signal by manipulating broad-band probe spectrum. The narrowing of the CARS signal depends on the spectrum bandwidth of the probe beam, and thus high-resolution CARS signal for a complicated quantum system can be obtained by the simple spectrum manipulation. Furthermore, the energy-level diagram for the complicated quantum system can also be labelled by measuring the CARS signal at a given frequency.     

Squeezing properties of light field in the process preparing Raman atom laser

In this paper, the squeezing properties of the probe light field in the process preparing Raman-type atom laser via stimulated Raman transition of the sodium atom Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) interacting with two light beam of a weaker squeezed coherent probe light and a stronger classical pump light are studied. The results show that the probe light can be periodically squeezed. The squeezing period is related to the mean number of atoms in trap, the strength of interaction between squeezed light and BEC atoms, and the detuning of the light, and the squeezing depth is determined by the initial squeezing factor of the probe light.     

Quantum correlated twin beams

We discuss recent progress in the study of the non-classical properties of light beams generated by non-degenerate parametric splitting in ⁽²⁾ nonlinear birefringent crystals, with special emphasis on their quantum correlation (twin beams). We describe experimental results using successively pure parametric fluorescence, parametric amplification of a weak signal beam pumped by a pulsed laser, and parametric oscillation in a cavity pumped by a cw laser. In this review, we compare the respective advantages and drawbacks of the different approaches.     

Spatial Splitting and Intensity Suppression of Four-Wave Mixing in V-Type Three-Level Atomic System

We illustrate our experimental observation of coexisting the controllable spatial splitting and intensity suppression of four-wave mixing （FWM） beam in a V-type three-level atomic system. The peak number and separation distance of the FWM beam are controlled by the intensities and frequencies of the laser beams, as well as atomic density.     

Dynamics of refractive-index changes and two-beam coupling in resonant media

The dynamics of light-induced change in the refractive index of a resonant medium are examined. For illumination with weak fields, the two relevant relaxation times are T ₁, the population lifetime and T ₂, the dipole-dephasing time. The response time of the index change is determined by the slower relaxation time of the medium which is usually the time T ₁ taken by the excited system to relax back to its thermal equilibrium value. Illumination with two beams of the same frequency that intersect within the medium leads to the formation of a volume grating in the medium that is spatially local. Hence there is no exchange of energy between the beams that write the grating, each beam merely reducing the absorption experienced by the other beam. Illumination with a moving, spatially periodic intensity pattern leads to gain for one beam and additional absorption for the other beam as they propagate through the medium. A complete set of coupled equations describing the intensities and phases of the beams undergoing non-degenerate two-wave mixing in the resonant media is derived using third-order perturbation theory, and the solutions are studied numerically. In particular, the two-beam coupling constant for intensity is shown to depend on the frequency difference between the two beams and on the pressure-induced collisional relaxations in the system.     

Transient gain property of a weak probe field in an asymmetric semiconductor coupled double quantum well structure

The transient gain property of a weak probe field in an asymmetric semiconductor coupled double quantum well structure is reported. The transient process of the system, which is induced by the external coherent coupling field, shows the property of no inverse gain. We find that the transient behavior of the probe field can be tuned by the change of tunneling barrier. Both the amplitude of the transient gain and the frequency of the oscillation can be affected by the lifetime broadening.     

Highly efficient inelastic four-wave mixing using dual induced transparency and coherently prepared states

We investigate a life time broadened and coherently prepared five-state system for multi-wave mixing processes. We show that very efficient wave mixing occurs, producing an unconventional mixing wave that has the characteristics of both conventional four-wave mixing (FWM) and stimulated hyper-Raman (SHR) emission. In addition, we show interesting multiple simultaneous multi-photon interference effects at large propagation distances and demonstrate more than 10 orders of magnitude suppression of populations of the probe wave terminal state and the near three-photon resonance mixing wave generating state. These new type of multi-photon interference based induced transparency effects, which are critically dependent on two distinctive relaxation processes involving both an external supplied and an internally generated fields, are fundamentally different from the conventional three-state electromagnetically induced transparency effect which does not depend on propagation. As a consequence, both the probe and the wave-mixing field to propagate nearly free of absorption and distortions in a highly dispersive medium.     

Nonlinear gain and dispersion in the four-level Λ-type system

The nonlinear gain and dispersion spectra of a four-level Λ-type system, which driven by a weak probe field and coupling field, is investigated. Using the perturbation method, third-order perturbation iterative solutions of the steady density matrix equations are obtained. We find that effect of the SGC on the nonlinear gain and dispersion are negligible. At the resonant coupling, nonlinear dispersion spectra of the two transition paths are symmetrical about a line, but the nonlinear absorption spectra are symmetrical about a point. The degeneration of the two lower states greatly modifies the nonlinear gain and dispersion spectra.     

Far-off resonance conditional phase-shifter using the ac Stark shift

We suggest a conditional phase-shifter that achieves a phase shift of π radians between two weak laser beams with a total energy density on the level of 1000 photons per atomic cross-section. The two laser beams interact through the simple nonlinear technique of ac Stark shifting the common ground state of a V-type system. We find that this switch can operate in the far-off resonance regime, with low absorption and high phase accumulation. Additionally, the bandwidth of this switch can be increased independently of the energy requirement.     

Direct measurement of free carrier nonlinearity in semiconductor-doped glass with picosecond pump-probe Z-scan experiment

We report the direct measurement of free carrier nonlinearity in a semiconductor-doped glass with picosecond pump-probe Z-scan experiment. A strong Z-scan signal from a weak and time delayed probe beam is observed. The probe beam Z-scan signal is comparable in magnitude to the Z-scan signal of the intense pump beam, clearly showing the dominance of the effective fifth order nonlinearity due to the pump beam generated free carriers in the overall nonlinear response of semiconductor-doped glass. The estimated magnitude of the fifth order nonlinearity is consistent with that obtained from earlier reported experiments.     

Squeezing by second-harmonic generation in a monolithic resonator

We have measured the intensity fluctuations of the second-harmonic mode generated in a MgO:LiNbO₃ external monolithic cavity pumped by a Nd:YAG laser. The cavity has mirror coatings for both the fundamental and the second-harmonic mode. We scan the cavity using the electro-optic effect of the crystal and observe that the second-harmonic beam of 2 mW exhibits a quantum noise reduction of 40(±5)%. In addition, we report on the active frequency stabilization of the monolithic device used in our squeezing experiments. Several fast tuning parameters such as the electro-optic effect, the photo-elastic effect, and the laser frequency have been investigated. With these tuning parameters the monolithic resonator can be locked on double-resonance at the phase-matching temperature, which is a prerequisit for observing squeezing in a cw-regime.     

Laser-induced polarization anisotropy in In three-level system

We observed a polarization change induced by laser radiation in the Raman-type three-level atom In in the presence of Ar. The observed two components in the polarization change spectrum of the probe beam correspond to the resonant Raman scattering and the luminescence processes in the spontaneous emission. The dependence of their intensities on the collision with Ar atoms agrees with the theory.     

Comparison of transient process between open and closed ladder-type systems with spontaneously generated coherence and incoherent pumping

We theoretically investigated transient response of open and closed three-level ladder-type atomic system with or without the spontaneously generated coherence (SGC) which could be satisfied with the help of an incoherent pumping. The existence of the SGC effect makes the open and closed system to be distinguished. We compared transient response of weak probe between open and closed system and found that transient properties exhibit different features by adjusting some related parameters, such as the relative phase between probe and coupling fields, the angle between two dipole moments.     

Infrared-light propagation and storing through two lateral tunnel-coupled InGaAs/GaAs quantum dots

Dynamic propagation and storing-retrieving of a weak infrared (IR)-light pulse in a coupled semiconductor double-quantum-dot (SDQD) structure are studied theoretically with feasible parameters. Two characteristic features are found. First, it is shown that, with a constant control field, the SDQD medium is transparent to the probe pulse which propagates over sufficiently long distances. Furthermore, the pulse shape remains unchanged on propagation. Second, with a time-varying control field, we are able to store and retrieve the probe pulse in this four-subband SDQD medium by adiabatically switching off and on the control field. Such a four-subband SDQD system for storing and retrieving coherent information is much more practical than its atomic counterpart as a result of its flexible design and the controllable (tunable) interference strength and thus provides a new possibility for technological applications in quantum information science in the SDQD solid-state nanostructure.     

Coherent control of optical bistability in tunnel-coupled double quantum wells

We analyze optical bistability (OB) behavior based on intersubband transitions in an asymmetric coupled-quantum well (CQW) driven coherently by a probe laser field and a control laser field by means of a unidirectional ring cavity. We demonstrate that OB can be controlled by tuning the energy splitting between two tunnel-coupled electronic levels, the intensity of the control field, and the frequency detuning of the probe and control fields. The influence of the electronic cooperation parameter on the OB behavior is also discussed. This investigation may be used for optimizing and controlling the optical switching process in the CQW solid-state system, which is much more practical than that in atomic system because of its flexible design and the controllable interference strength.     

Cold atoms: A new medium for quantum optics

Laser-cooled and trapped cesium atoms have been used as a nonlinear medium in a nearly resonant cavity. A study of the semiclassical dynamics of the system was performed, showing bistability and instabilities. In the quantum domain, squeezing in a probe beam having interacted with this system was demonstrated.Dedicated to H. Walther on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Controllable Optical Bistability and Multistability in a Four-Level Atomic System with Closed-Loop Configuration

We theoretically investigate optical bistability （OB） and multistability （OM） behaviour of a closed-loop configuration atomic system driven by a degenerate coupling- field and a degenerate probe field inside a unidirectional ring cavity. It is found that the OB and OM behaviour can be controlled by adjusting- the intensity and the frequency detuning of the coupling- field, respectively. Interestingly, our numerical results show that it is easy to realize the transition from OB to OM or vice versa by adjusting- the intensity of the coupling- field under a appropriate frequency detuning. The effect of the atomic cooperation parameter on the OB behaviour is also discussed.     

Giant Kerr nonlinearities and slow optical solitons in coupled double quantum-well nanostructure

We investigate the enhancement of Kerr nonlinearities in an asymmetric coupled double quantum-well (CQW) by analyzing the nonlinear optical response. With the consideration of real parameters in AlGaAs-based CQWs, we indicate the possibility to obtain the giant Kerr nonlinearities with the cancellation of linear absorption simultaneously. We also reveal both analytically and numerically that under appropriate conditions a probe field with very low intensity can evolve into a stable shape-preserving waveform that propagates with a slow group velocity. The stability of such slow optical solitons is also demonstrated numerically.     

Coexisting Raman- and Rayleigh-Enhanced Four-Wave Mixing in Femtosecond Polarization Beats

Based on the polarization interference of Raman- and Rayleigh-enhanced four-wave mixing processes, heterodyne detection of the Raman, Rayleigh and coexisting Raman and Rayleigh femtosecond difference-frequency polarization beats is investigated in the cw and the three Markovian stochastic models, respectively. These two processes exhibit asymmetric and symmetric spectra, respectively, and the thermal effect in them can be suppressed by field-correlation method. Such studies of coexisting Raman- and Rayleigh-enhanced four-wave mixing processes can have important applications in coherence quantum control, and quantum information processing.