Spontaneous modulation instability in a noninstantaneous self-defocusing medium within a cavity longer than the coherence length

We study, theoretically and experimentally, the spontaneous pattern formation of modulation instability (MI) in a non-instantaneous self-defocusing medium, which is placed in a cavity longer than the coherence length of the circulating light. The delayed response of the nonlinearity can amplify the noise of certain spatial and temporal frequencies. Although it lacks the resonance condition resulted from the interference between different cycles, the cavity can still select one specific frequency. A pattern of this frequency can emerge spontaneously if its gain from the nonlinearity is larger than the total cavity loss.     

Pattern formation by spatially incoherent light in a nonlinear ring cavity

Modulation instability and pattern formation by spatially incoherent light is investigated experimentally in a nonlinear ring cavity using a photorefractive strontium barium niobate crystal as the nonlinear medium. A step-like threshold for the onset of pattern formation is observed experimentally for the case of high optical feedback. When compared to the case without feedback, this threshold is shifted towards smaller nonlinearities and a significant increase of the modulation degree of the obtained patterns is obtained. Our measurements also show that, above threshold, the dominating spatial frequency of the patterns decreases monotonically with both increasing nonlinearity and increasing feedback. PACS 42.65.Tg; 42.65.Sf; 89.75.Kd     

Pattern formation and direct measurement of the spatial resolution in a photorefractive liquid crystal light valve

In a photorefractive liquid crystal light valve, acting as a Kerr-like nonlinear optical medium, we show the appearance of optical patterns induced by a single mirror feedback. The spatial wavelength of the patterns scales with the distance between the mirror and the valve and the contrast of the patterns decreases for decreasing this distance. We use these properties to setup a new optical scheme for the measurement of the spatial resolution of the nonlinear device.     

光腔中两原子共振荧光的相干性质

研究了置于光腔中的两个二能级原子，在强相干场驱动下的共振荧光光场的辐射场相干性质，发现在坏腔条件下，可以通过调节光腔与相干场的频率来提高一阶可见度和减小二阶关联函数.这是因为改变光腔与相干场的频率会引起原子修饰态布居数的改变，导致一阶可见度和二阶关联函数发生显著变化. 关键词： 光腔 两个二能级原子 一阶可见度 二阶关联函数     

Measurements of the vertical coherence length in neutron interferometry

The study and use of macroscopic quantum coherence requires long coherence lengths. Here we describe an approach to measuring the vertical coherence length in neutron interferometry, along with improvements to the NIST interferometer that led to a measured coherence length of 790 A. The measurement is based on introducing a path separation and measuring the loss in contrast as this separation is increased. The measured coherence length is consistent with the momentum distribution of the neutron beam. Finally, we demonstrate that the loss in contrast with beam displacement in one leg of the interferometer can be recovered by introducing a corresponding displacement in the second leg.     

Longitudinal purely spatial coherence of a light field

The effects of longitudinal purely spatial coherence of light and the results of observation of these effects in an interference experiment are considered under the condition that the length of temporal coherence l _c is considerably smaller than the length of longitudinal spatial coherence ρ_‖ of the field. It is shown that, for l _c ? ρ_‖, the longitudinal purely spatial coherence of the light field in fact governs the coherence of the wave train in the process of its propagation. The length and the time of coherent (“free”) path of the wave train are considered as new spatial and temporal scales of a partially coherent light field.     

On the possibility of natural formation of a transverse wave with a phase velocity lower than the velocity of light

The formation of a transverse wave with a phase velocity lower than the velocity of light, which can exist in an equilibrium plasma without a slow-wave structure in zero magnetic field, is described. It involves the transformation of a transverse wave with trapped electrons, traveling along the magnetic field, into a slow transverse wave after the removal of the magnetic field. During the evolution of the wave with trapped electrons, the magnetic induction decreases very slowly in the direction of the wave propagation. As a result, the velocity at which electrons are in resonant interaction with the wave increases; therefore, the electrons fall to the bottom of potential wells. Under the influence of the trapped electrons, the phase velocity of the wave decreases and becomes lower than the velocity of light. It becomes equal to the velocity at which the electrons are in resonance interaction with the wave at the instant when the magnetic field vanishes. It is demonstrated that a transverse wave with a velocity lower than the velocity of light can exist in an equilibrium plasma even after the magnetic field vanishes; in this case, the flow of trapped electrons serves as a slow-wave structure.     

Turning light into a liquid via atomic coherence

We study a four-level atomic system with electromagnetically induced transparency with giant chi(3) and chi(5) susceptibilities of opposite signs. This system will allow us to obtain multidimensional solitons and light condensates with surface tension properties analogous to those of usual liquids.     

Calculation of the focal length of a thermal lens inside a laser cavity

A formula has been found for the value of the induced thermal lens focus in a cell containing liquids with low absorption coefficients, inside a laser cavity. Refraction laws, and in extent, transport equations for progressive and regressive waves with gaussian profile, have been obtained in the geometrical optics approximation. The stationary case is considered, with energy transfer by conduction. The relationship found is compared with results from other works and discussed.     

Magneto-optical rotation in cavity QED with Zeeman coherence

We investigate theoretically the magneto-optical rotation in cavity QED system with atomic Zeeman coherence, which is established via coherent population trapping. Owing to Zeeman coherence, the ultranarrow transmission spectrum less than 1 MHz with gain can be achieved with a flat-top Faraday rotation angle. By controlling the parameters appropriately, the input probe components within the flat-top regime rotate with almost the same angle, and transmit through the cavity perpendicularly to the other components outside the flat-top regime. The concepts discussed here provide an important tool for perfect ultranarrow Faraday optical filter and quantum information processing.     

On the coherence length of a monochromator for use with a michelson stellar interferometer

The drop in visibility due to path difference errors in a Michelson stellar interferometer is normally controlled by a monochromator in the system. It is shown that the effect of this monochromator on the visibility is governed by a product of two factors, one geometrical and the other a function of the resolving power of the monochromator. The second factor causes the visibility to vanish identically for path differences exceeding a certain value. A comparison of prisms and gratings shows that in general a prism train is preferable as a dispersing device.     

利用三平面腔镜共焦腔产生多模压缩光束

设计了一种阈值下的简并光学参量振荡腔用于产生多模压缩光束,并且利用"薄晶体近似"的方法分析了这个光学参量振荡腔,得到了输出多模压缩光束的噪声谱.数值模拟了多模压缩光束的压缩度和抽运光场或者振荡腔的失谐量之间的关系,得出只有适当选择本底光的相位,抽运光的幅度以及共焦腔的失谐量时,才可以探测到好的信号场噪声谱压缩度.     

Influence of the phase coherence length on ballistic transport

The characteristic length scales for the transport in disordered metals are discussed. Based on a phenomenological model of phase randomising scattering processes, the influence of the phase coherence length on the conductance of ballistic systems is studied. It is argued that the frequency dependence of the conductance of quasi-one dimensional systems can be used in order to determine not only the statistical average but the whole distribution function of the phase coherence length. Various cases of distributions, the -function, the exponential, and the Gamma distribution, are discussed. It is shown that due to quantum coherence effects deviations from the classical (Drude) behavior of the conductance exist. For independent scattering processes the probability distribution function is given by the Poisson distribution function. In this case an expression for the conductance can be derived which contains the ballistic transport, and the result for the exponential distribution.     

Longitudinal coherence length of an optical field

Longitudinal coherence of an optical field depending on the parameters of its frequency and angular spectra is considered. Expressions for the function and length of longitudinal coherence depending on the width of the frequency and angular spectra are obtained. The competitive influence of the angular and frequency spectra of the field on its longitudinal coherence is discussed. Experimental studies using a longitudinal shearing Michelson interferometer that proves theoretical results are performed.     

High angle phase modulated low coherence interferometry for path length resolved Doppler measurements of multiply scattered light

We describe an improved method for coherence domain path length resolved measurements of multiply scattered photons in turbid media. An electro-optic phase modulator sinusoidally modulates the phase in the reference arm of a low coherence fiber optic Mach-Zehnder interferometer, at a high phase modulation angle. For dynamic turbid media this results in Doppler broadened phase modulation interference peaks at the modulation frequency and its multiples. The signal to noise ratio is increased by almost one order or magnitude for large modulation angles and the shape of the spectral peaks resulting from the interference of Doppler shifted sample waves and reference light is not changed. The path length dependent Doppler broadening is compared with the theoretical predictions in the single scattered and diffusive regimes. The experimentally measured optical path lengths are validated with the Monte Carlo technique.