Counter-propagating Light Waves Research Articles

Proposed method for highly selective resonant optical manipulation using counter-propagating light waves

Abstract Optical manipulation using electronic resonance can realize the selective manipulation of nano objects exhibiting quantum mechanical properties by confining electronic systems based on the characteristics of individual objects. This study theoretically proposes a method to actualize selective manipulation based on the resonant optical response. In this method, counter-propagating light waves are used to extract the pure contribution of the resonant optical response in the exerted force by regulating the balance between the two light waves. Furthermore, the selection of nanoparticles with particular resonance levels at room temperature and quantum dots with a particular size in the cryogenic condition is numerically demonstrated. An especially interesting aspect of this method is that it enables the examination of the absorption spectrum of a single nanoparticle by mapping the absorption efficiency to its mechanical motion. The results reveal an unconventional link between optical force technology and nanomaterials science.

Ultrahigh-quality electromagnetically induced absorption resonances in a cesium vapor cell

Electromagnetically induced absorption (EIA) of cesium atoms exposed to counter-propagating light waves with orthogonal linear polarizations is studied. Probe beam transmission through a buffer gas-filled vapor cell is monitored as a function of a static magnetic field applied parallel to the wave vectors. The light waves are tuned to a single dipole transition Fg → Fe in the D1 line (λ = 894.6 nm). The proposed magneto-optical configuration helps overcome a long-standing problem in obtaining high-contrast EIA resonances in conjunction with narrow linewidths. Our experiments demonstrate EIA contrast with respect to a broad Doppler absorption background (CD) as high as 1630%. Thus, a high value of CD means that background absorption is almost absent, and the vapor cell transmission profile represents only a single narrow resonance. This result is unique for EIA as well as for electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) effects, because usually in a resonant medium, narrow EIT or EIA resonances are accompanied by natural-linewidth or other broad spectral features, even in the case of cold atoms. The resonance contrast with respect to the light transmission background (Cback) is also high enough, reaching 75% in the experiments. The full width at half maximum of the narrowest observed EIA is approximately 0.77 mG (0.7 × 0.77 = 540 Hz in the frequency domain). The considered simple scheme has good prospects for the development of various quantum magneto-optical devices such as optical switches and atomic magnetometers.

Polarization oscillating beams constructed by copropagating optical frozen waves

Polarization oscillating beams, namely, polarization standing waves, commonly formed by a pair of coherent counterpropagating light waves with orthogonal polarizations, oscillate their states of polarization periodically within a wavelength interval, offering conceptual and practical interests in light-matter interactions such as the nonreciprocal magnetoelectric effect, and impressive applications in optical imaging, sensing, and chirality detection. Here, we propose a new class of polarization oscillating beams that longitudinally vary states of polarization with spatial intervals within centimeters via the superposition of two copropagating optical frozen waves with preshaped longitudinal intensity profiles and transverse phase structures. The flexibility and manipulability are demonstrated by creating several polarization oscillating beams with different polarization structures. This work paves a new way to manipulate other waves and may be useful for applications of optical standing waves in optical manipulation, light guiding of atoms, polarization-sensitive sensing, etc.

Surgical correction of biliary hypertension in patients with complicated forms of chronic pancreatitis

We calculate the temperature of the atoms in the field of counter-propagating stochastic light waves (the chaotic-field model). We show that the temperature of the atomic ensemble depends on the autocorrelation time of the waves, their intensity and the detuning of the carrier frequency of the waves from the atomic transition frequency. The field can form a one-dimensional trap for atoms, as is readily seen from our previous investigation of light-pressure force on an atom in counter-propagating stochastic light waves [V. I. Romanenko, B. W. Shore, L. P. Yatsenko, Opt. Commun. 268 (2006) 121–132]. We carry out numerical simulation of the atomic ensemble using parameters appropriate for sodium atoms. Analyzing the known investigation of the light-pressure force on atoms and their motion in the counter-propagating polychromatic waves, we suggest an hypothesis that any polychromatic counter-propagating waves that have a discrete spectrum, or waves described by a stationary stochastic process, one of which repeats the other, can form a trap for atoms.

Polariton Propagation in Imperfect Resonantly Absorbing Bragg grating

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High-quality electromagnetically-induced absorption resonances in a buffer-gas-filled vapour cell

Magneto-optical subnatural-linewidth resonances of electromagnetically-induced absorption (EIA) in an alkali vapour cell have been experimentally studied. The observation configuration includes using two counter-propagating pumps and probe light waves with mutually orthogonal linear polarizations, exciting an open optical transition in the 87Rb D1 line in the presence of argon buffer gas. The EIA signals registered in a probe-wave transmission reach an unprecedented contrast of about 135% with respect to the wide ‘Doppler’ absorption pedestal and 29% with respect to the level of background transmission signal. These contrast values correspond to a relatively small resonance full width at half maximum of about 7.2 mG (5.2 kHz). The width of the narrowest EIA resonance observed is about 2.1 mG (1.5 kHz). To our knowledge, such a large relative contrast at the kHz-width is the record result for EIA resonances. In general, the work has experimentally proved that the magneto-optical scheme used has very good prospects for various quantum technologies (quantum sensors of weak magnetic fields, optical switches and other photonic elements).

Effect of a stray magnetic field on nonlinear magneto-optical resonances observed in the geometry of counter-propagating light waves

Magneto-optical resonances of electromagnetically induced absorption (EIA) in a cell filled with the vapor of alkali atoms and buffer gas are considered. The atoms are excited using a configuration of electromagnetic fields composed of two counter-propagating linearly polarized light waves and a static magnetic field. We focus on the influence of the residual magnetic field on the parameters of nonlinear resonances. In real experiments, a residual field is always present in the cell due to imperfect magnetic-field shielding. On the basis of calculations, we formulate practical recommendations for controlling the residual magnetic field in the experiments aimed at observation of high-quality EIA resonances. The results from this work can find application in quantum magnetometry and nonlinear optics.

Inelastic ponderomotive scattering of electrons at a high-intensity optical travelling wave in vacuum

In the early days of quantum mechanics Kapitza and Dirac predicted that matter waves would scatter off the optical intensity grating formed by two counter-propagating light waves [1]. This interaction, driven by the ponderomotive potential of the optical standing wave, was both studied theoretically and demonstrated experimentally for atoms [2] and electrons [3-5]. In the original version of the experiment [1,5], only the transverse momentum of particles was varied, but their energy and longitudinal momentum remained unchanged after the interaction. Here, we report on the generalization of the Kapitza-Dirac effect. We demonstrate that the energy of sub-relativistic electrons is strongly modulated on the few-femtosecond time scale via the interaction with a travelling wave created in vacuum by two colliding laser pulses at different frequencies. This effect extends the possibilities of temporal control of freely propagating particles with coherent light and can serve the attosecond ballistic bunching of electrons [6], or for the acceleration of neutral atoms or molecules by light.

Hepatic morphological changes in experimental acute biliary pancreatitis.

We calculate the temperature of the atoms in the field of counter-propagating stochastic light waves (the chaotic-field model). We show that the temperature of the atomic ensemble depends on the autocorrelation time of the waves, their intensity and the detuning of the carrier frequency of the waves from the atomic transition frequency. The field can form a one-dimensional trap for atoms, as is readily seen from our previous investigation of light-pressure force on an atom in counter-propagating stochastic light waves [V. I. Romanenko, B. W. Shore, L. P. Yatsenko, Opt. Commun. 268 (2006) 121–132]. We carry out numerical simulation of the atomic ensemble using parameters appropriate for sodium atoms. Analyzing the known investigation of the light-pressure force on atoms and their motion in the counter-propagating polychromatic waves, we suggest an hypothesis that any polychromatic counter-propagating waves that have a discrete spectrum, or waves described by a stationary stochastic process, one of which repeats the other, can form a trap for atoms.

Sagnac Interferometer-Assisted Microwave Photonic Link With Improved Dynamic Range

In this paper, we propose a simple method to improve the spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) of a microwave photonic link (MPL). The proposed method is based on a Sagnac interferometer structure; signal output of the Sagnac interferometer consists of two kinds of optical components: the clockwise (CW) modulated optical signal and the counter clockwise (CCW) unmodulated optical carrier. An appropriate situation is then created to satisfy the phase and power ratio condition of the two counter propagating light waves. Eventually, in photodiode, part of the third-order intermodulation distortion (IMD3) component is generated by the CW light wave and another part is generated by the CW sidebands beating with the CCW optical carrier. Under appropriate circumstances, these two kinds of IMD3s have same amplitude but opposing phase; hence, the IMD3 can be cancelled, and an enhanced SFDR is achieved. An experiment is conducted, and results show that, as compared with a conventional MPL, the SFDR of the proposed link is improved by 10.3 dB, and for a 16-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) 10-MSym/s signal centered at 15 GHz, the error vector magnitude is reduced by 5.9%.

Trapping of atoms by the counter-propagating stochastic light waves

We calculate the temperature of the atoms in the field of counter-propagating stochastic light waves (the chaotic-field model). We show that the temperature of the atomic ensemble depends on the autocorrelation time of the waves, their intensity and the detuning of the carrier frequency of the waves from the atomic transition frequency. The field can form a one-dimensional trap for atoms, as is readily seen from our previous investigation of light-pressure force on an atom in counter-propagating stochastic light waves [V. I. Romanenko, B. W. Shore, L. P. Yatsenko, Opt. Commun. 268 (2006) 121–132]. We carry out numerical simulation of the atomic ensemble using parameters appropriate for sodium atoms. Analyzing the known investigation of the light-pressure force on atoms and their motion in the counter-propagating polychromatic waves, we suggest an hypothesis that any polychromatic counter-propagating waves that have a discrete spectrum, or waves described by a stationary stochastic process, one of which repeats the other, can form a trap for atoms.

Coherent control of light-matter interactions in polarization standing waves.

We experimentally demonstrate that standing waves formed by two coherent counter-propagating light waves can take a variety of forms, offering new approaches to the interrogation and control of polarization-sensitive light-matter interactions in ultrathin (subwavelength thickness) media. In contrast to familiar energy standing waves, polarization standing waves have constant electric and magnetic energy densities and a periodically varying polarization state along the wave axis. counterintuitively, anisotropic ultrathin (meta)materials can be made sensitive or insensitive to such polarization variations by adjusting their azimuthal angle.

Electromagnetically-induced-absorption resonance with high contrast and narrow width in the Hanle configuration

The method for observing the high-contrast and narrow-width resonances of electromagnetically induced absorption (EIA) in the Hanle configuration under counter-propagating pump and probe light waves is proposed. Here, as an example, we study a ‘dark’ type of atomic dipole transition in D1 line of 87Rb, where usually the electromagnetically induced transparency can be observed. To obtain the EIA signal one should properly choose the polarizations of light waves and intensities. In contrast to regular schemes for observing EIA signals (under a single traveling light wave in the Hanle configuration or under a bichromatic light field consisting of two traveling waves), the proposed scheme allows one to use buffer gas for significantly improving the properties of the resonance. Also the dramatic influence of atomic transition openness on the contrast of the resonance is revealed, which is advantageous in comparison with cyclic atomic transitions. The nonlinear resonances in a probe-wave transmitted signal with contrast close to 100% and sub-kHz widths can be obtained. The results are interesting in high-resolution spectroscopy, nonlinear and magneto-optics.

600-Hz linewidth short-linear-cavity fiber laser.

We proposed a short-linear-cavity (SLC) fiber laser based on a virtual-folded-ring (VFR) resonator and a fiber Bragg grating Fabry-Perot filter. Spatial hole burning effect was reduced by retarding the polarization state of the counter-propagating light waves utilizing the VFR structure. The photon lifetime of the resonator was extended due to the multi-reflection inside the FBG FP, which increased the intra-cavity power and relatively suppressed the contribution of phase diffusion from spontaneous emission. The relaxation oscillation frequency is around 160kHz due to the slow light effect. The linewidth of the SLC fiber laser was measured to be less than 600Hz.

Optical polarization multistability in reflection in a semi-infinite isotropic nonlinear Kerr medium

We study nonlinear interaction of counter-propagating plane light waves in a semi-infinite isotropic lossless nonlinear Kerr medium and report existence of several regions of optical-polarization-multistability. The counter-propagating waves may be produced by normal reflection of an incident beam by a mirror in the nonlinear Kerr medium. We obtain nonlinear coupled differential equations for Stokes parameters of the two beams and solve them following the method of Prakash et al. [Mod. Phys. Lett. B 14, 47 (2000)] and the boundary conditions at the mirror. We find that, for the same incident intensity and for the same polarization state of the incident beam, output beam may exist in several stable polarization states.

A novel ring structure-based distributed optical fiber vibration sensing system

A novel distributed optical fiber vibration sensing system is proposed and demonstrated, using a ring structure-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI). The direct current light-based real-time and dynamic locating technique is exploited. By introducing the ring structure into the interferometer, the linear interferometer is changed into ring type, resulting in two counter-propagating light waves, thus one MZI equally operates as two. When a vibration acts on the sensing fiber, the counter-propagating signals produce identical phase-changes simultaneously, which propagate along different paths to optical receivers. With the help of digital processing technologies to analyze the received signals, the characteristic parameters of vibration, including the spatial position, frequency and amplitude can be achieved in real time. A spatial resolution better than 40m is successfully verified in a 1.01 km prototype system of single vibration. Furthermore, the feasibility of detecting and locating multiple vibrations is theoretically analyzed and simulated.

Optoacoustic diagnostics of absorbing media

We have calculated the intensities of ultrasonic waves excited by counter-propagating light waves of different frequencies and scattered by spherical defects in absorbing isotropic media. We have analyzed the intensity of the scattered sound as a function of the scattering angle and the position of the defect relative to the entry face of the acoustic waveguide. We have shown that for hollow spherical defects, the intensity of the scattered sound tends toward zero for scattering angles close to 90o, and for significantly smaller angles for dense inclusions.

A new instability of counter-propagating waves in BaTiO3?

The self-development of a strong reflection grating in a BaTiO3 sample illuminated with two mutually incoherent counter-propagating light waves is reported. The two transmitted waves diffracted from this grating become partially mutually coherent.

Reflection-type photorefractive gratings in tin hypotiodiphosphate

Reflection photorefractive gratings recorded by nearly counterpropagating light waves in the near infrared are studied in tin hypothiodiphosphate. The ratios are established for certain electrooptic tensor components responsible for reflection grating recording, and the Debye screening length is evaluated. Reflection holograms of binary objects are recorded.

Multiwave-pumped mirrorless parametric oscillation in BaTiO3

We report on the observation of mirrorless oscillation in photorefractive BaTiO3 pumped by two pairs of two nearly counterpropagating light waves, each of them containing an ordinary and an extraordinary component of polarization. The oscillation waves are located on a cone with an apex angle defined by the phase-matching conditions of this process.