Enhancement and Suppression of Four-Wave Mixing in a Four-Level Atomic System

We report observations of the enhancement and suppression of four-wave mixing （FWM） in an electromagnetically induced transparency window in a Y-type ^85 Rb atomic system. The results show the evolution of the dressed effects （from pure enhancement to partial enhancement/suppression, and finally into pure suppression） in the degenerate-FWM processes. Moreover, we use the perturbation chain method to describe the FWM process. Finally, we observe the polarization dependence of the enhancement and suppression of the FWM signal.     

Beam-size effect in time-delayed laser-induced double gratings

We have studied theoretically the effect of the probe-beam size on time-delayed laser-induced double gratings by assuming that the probe beam is described as a Gaussian beam. LettingE _s1 andE _s2 be the Four-Wave Mixing (FWM) signals originating from the diffraction of the probe beam by the gratings, the condition for the occurrence of the FWM signal modulation is that the divergence angle ofE _s1 andE _s2 is larger than half of the intersection angle between the propagation directions ofE _s1 andE _s2. We have also proposed methods to increase the modulation contrast.     

Efficient four-wave mixing of a coupled double quantum-well nanostructure

We propose an efficient four-wave mixing (FWM) scheme in an asymmetric semiconductor double quantum-well (SDQW) structure based on intersubband transitions, and obtain the corresponding explicit analytical expressions for the input probe and generated FWM pulsed fields by use of the coupled Schrödinger-Maxwell approach. Under the resonant and phase-matched conditions, the FWM efficiency versus several variables is also discussed in details and the maximum FWM efficiency of the system under study is greater than 25%. Such a semiconductor system is much more practical than its atomic counterpart because of its flexible design and the controllable interference strength. This nonlinear optical process in the SDQW solid-state material can be used for efficiently generating coherent short-wavelength radiation.     

Mid-infrared efficient generation by resonant four-wave mixing in a three-coupled-quantum-well nanostructure

We present a cascade configuration for the realization of highly efficient four-wave mixing (FWM) process in an asymmetric semiconductor three-coupled-quantum-well (TCQW) structure based on intersubband transitions (ISBTs). In the proposed TCQW scheme, the efficiency of the generated FWM mid-infrared (MIR) signal is significantly enhanced and the obtained maximum efficiency is greater than 50%. The corresponding explicit analytical expressions for the input probe and generated FWM pulsed fields are derived by use of the coupled Schrödinger-Maxwell approach and the FWM efficiency versus several variables is also discussed in details. Such a semiconductor system is much more practical than its atomic counterpart because of its flexible design and the wide adjustable parameters. This nonlinear optical process in the TCQW solid-state material can be used for efficiently generating coherent short-wavelength radiation.     

On the aproximate formulae and the exact method to compute wavefront reflectivity in degenerate four-wave mixing

Wavefront reflectivity in a conventional degenerate four-wave mixing (FWM) configuration can be calculated, using either approximate formulae, or exact numerical methods to solve the nonlinear coupled-wave equations. We have computed the wavefront reflectivity for FWM in a transmission and reflection geometry, respectively, using these two different methods. A comparison between them indicates that these formulae are reasonable approximations when beam coupling, diffraction efficiency and absorption are all low, and especially in the case of transmission geometry.     

Determination of Zero-Dispersion Wavelength by Four-Wave Mixing

We present an improved approach to determine the zero-dispersion wavelength by measurement of the four-wave mixing （FWM） effect employing the two-tunable-laser scanning method. The FWM behaviour of combined fibres with two different zero-dispersion wavelengths is investigated theoretically and experimentally. The results are compared with those by regular zero-dispersion wavelength test instrument using phase shift technique. The theoretical and experimental results confirm the feasibility of determination of zero-dispersion wavelength by FWM.     

Biexcitonic effects in the time integrated four-wave mixing with picosecond pulses

We propose a simple method to estimate the biexcitonic contribution to the excitonic non-linearity. The method is based on the time integrated four-wave mixing (TI FWM) with picosecond pulses. The TI FWM signal, which is measured as a function of the delay between pump and test pulses, shows shift towards positive and negative time delay when the laser is tuned at the exciton and biexciton resonance, respectively. We show theoretically that the magnitude of the shift allows us to estimate the biexcitonic contribution to the third-order non-linearity at the fundamental band edge.     

Coherent control of dressed images of four-wave mixing

In two-level as well as V-type three-level atomic systems, we study probe transmission, four-wave mixing (FWM) and fluorescence signals with dressing effect experimentally and theoretically. We find both the hyperfine structure (at the same energy level) and the transition dipole moment (at different energy levels) can affect the dressing effect. We also experimentally investigate that angle-control dynamics in the nonlinear propagation of the images of the probe and generated FWM in two-level atomic systems, and find that the focusing and defocusing of probe beam and FWM signals can be greatly affected by the angles between dressing fields.     

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.     

Interferometry with Ca atoms

Separated field excitation of a calcium atomic beam using four traveling laser fields represents two distinct atom interferometers utilizing the internal degrees of freedom of the atoms. Phase shifts between the atomic partial waves have been realized by phase shifts of the laser wave fields, by the ac-Stark shift, and by rotation of the interferometer (Sagnac effect). One particular interferometer can be selected by interaction of the atomic waves with extra laser fields. We furthermore report on the preparation of a laser cooled and deflected calcium atomic beam that can be utilized to largely increase the sensitivity of the interferometer.     

χ(3) scattering noises in nonlinear optical phase conjugation

Phase conjugation by Four-Wave Mixing (FWM) is treated quantum mechanically as a multiphoton scattering process. The spontaneous scattering of two counter-propagating photons gives rise to a background noise, whereas the stimulated scattering in the presence of the probe beam generates the phase conjugate signal. In addition, the stimulated scattering also contributes to a background noise which has never been discussed. Compared with Rayleigh scattering noise, the ⁽³⁾ scattering noises are relatively small for intensity up to 10⁸ W/cm². For higher intensities, the ⁽³⁾ scattering noises, in conjunction with the Rayleigh scattering noise, will affect the spatial fidelity of the optical phase conjugation.     

Interactions of Three Dual-Dressing Effects of Four-Wave Mixing in a Five-Level Atomic System

We study the four-wave mixing （FWM） in an opening five-level system with two dressing fields. There axe three kinds of doubly dressing mechanisms （parallel cascade, sequential cascade, and nested cascade） in the system for doubly dressed four-wave mixing. These mechanisms reflect different correlations between two dressing fields and different effects of two dressing fields to the FWM. Investigation of these mechanisms is helpful to understand the generated high-order nonlinear optical signal dressed by multi-fields.     

Experimental demonstration on 40 Gbit/s all-optical multicasting logic XOR gate for NRZ-DPSK signals using four-wave mixing in highly nonlinear fiber

We propose and demonstrate all-optical multicasting logic XOR gate for non-return-to-zero differential phase-shift keying (NRZ-DPSK) signals by using non-degenerate four-wave mixing (FWM) in a highly nonlinear fiber (HNLF). Theoretical analysis regarding the operation principle of NRZ-DPSK logic XOR gate is clearly described by deriving an analytical solution under the non-depletion approximation. The NRZ-DPSK logic XOR operation is attributed to the linear relationship of complex amplitudes between converted idlers and input NRZ-DPSK signals. By using three non-degenerate FWM processes in an HNLF, 40 Gbit/s all-optical multicasting logic XOR gate for NRZ-DPSK signals are successfully demonstrated in the experiment.     

Conditional phase-shifter in refractive index enhancement scheme

We propose a conditional phase-shifter between two weak laser beams in an alkali vapor. We begin by enhancing the refractive index of a weak, far-detuned probe beam while maintaining vanishing absorption. The enhancement is a result of interfering an absorptive and an amplifying Raman resonance in a four-level atomic system. Then, a conditional switching beam ac stark shifts the narrow Raman resonances, modifying the phase accumulation experienced by the probe beam. We find that the scheme works with acceptable fidelity at the tens of photons level, and that the energy requirement can be reduced further at the expense of noise.     

High-resolution spectroscopy with laser-cooled and trapped calcium atoms

We report on high-resolution spectroscopy with two different samples of calcium atoms, in a laser-cooled and deflected beam and in a magneto-optical trap. The atomic beam was excited by spatially separated laser fields. For spectroscopy with stored atoms in a magneto-optical trap we used a multiple-pulse excitation scheme. The resolution as low as 2.5 kHz was limited by residual frequency fluctuations of our dye-laser spectrometer. The results should allow to establish a frequency standard with a relative uncertainty below 10^–14.     

五能级原子开放系统中的多波混频共存特性

研究了受强缀饰场作用的五能级原子系统所产生的多波混频共存特性.研究发现,通过调节激光束方向,沿同一方向出射的八波混频、双缀饰四波混频和单缀饰六波混频信号因共用能级的原子相干产生而出现竞争现象,通过控制缀饰场减弱四波混频和六波混频信号强度,可以达到增强八波混频信号的目的.还对级联和并联两种不同缀饰方式下双缀饰四波混频过程的差别进行了详细分析. 关键词： 双缀饰四波混频 单缀饰六波混频 八波混频 抑制增强     

Three-field noise correlation via third-order nonlinear optical processes

We report experimental observation of three-field noise correlation between two coexisting four-wave mixing (FWM) signals and the probe signal in a coherently-prepared rubidium vapor system. The two FWM signals in a double-Λ type quasi-four-level atomic system are obtained in different directions via their respective phase-matching conditions and can be detected individually. These signals and the probe beam are found to be strongly correlated or anticorrelated with each other.     

Amplitude Regenerative Characteristics of RZ-DPSK Wavelength Converter Based on Four-Wave Mixing in SOA

We investigate the phase-preserving amplitude regenerative characteristics of the return-to-zero （RZ） differential- phase-shift-keying （DPSK） wavelength conversion based on four-wave m/xing （FWM） in a semiconductor optical amplifier （SOA）. The Q-factor and the optical signal-to-noise ratio （OSNR） before and after conversion are experimentally obtained and analysed in different input noise power levels. In both the continuous-wave and synchronous clock pumping cases, we find that there is amplitude clamping in the FWM conversion due to the gain saturation of SOA, which can suppress the amplitude fluctuation of the converted DPSK signal before and after demodulation. We have achieved 2-dB Q penalty improvement in our experiment demonstration of lOGbit/s RZ-DPSK signal with OSNR lower than 19dB.     

Effects of the spectral inhomogeneity on the optical properties in the four-wave mixing signal

Effects of the inhomogeneous broadening on the optical responses of a two-level system in the four-wave mixing signal (FWM) were studied in this work. In this model, we introduced in the optical Bloch equations a stochastic Bohr frequency, generated as a consequence of the solute-solvent molecular collisions. These expressions are averaged in the statistical ensemble over all realizations of the random variables. Using the convolution theorem, it is possible to incorporate the saturation effects of the electromagnetic field treated at all orders of perturbation. For the averages, we have considered two distributions of linewidth. From the analytical expressions, for both linear and nonlinear responses, numerical calculations were carried out to obtain surfaces as a function of the magnitude of the pump field and the detuning factor. Saturation effect is shown in the linear and the coupled nonlinear responses. In this work, we have already considered the inhomogeneous spectral line and studied the cases in which all the fields propagate through the medium.     

Evaluation of the cross-polarization modulation impact on the conversion efficiency of a four wave mixing process developed in a bulk-SOA

This paper addresses, theoretically and experimentally, the impact of the cross-polarization modulation (XPolM) phenomenon on the conversion efficiency of a four wave mixing (FWM) process taking place in a bulk-SOA with input signals linearly co-polarized at 0°, 45°, 90°, and −45°. Based on the experimental determination of the output polarization states of the pump and probe signals, a technique is proposed to incorporate the XPolM effect in classic models describing the FWM. It is demonstrated that classic models lacking the inclusion of the XPolM effect can reflect a significant error in the estimation of the conversion efficiency.