Hot Atomic Vapor Research Articles

Doppler narrowing of EIT linewidth in closed-loop systems

We theoretically investigate a five-level closed-loop M-type atomic system and a three-level closed-loop $$\Lambda $$ -system in hot atomic vapour. In contrast to closed-loop $$\Lambda $$ -system, two unpopulated ground states of the M-system are coupled by a microwave field. We find that thermal averaging in the M-system causes many interesting modification of probe absorption lineshape including narrowing, splitting and absorption enhancement. In M-system, the linewidth of probe absorption after thermal averaging becomes remarkably narrow (100 times smaller) with respect to the linewidth of stationary atoms. On the contrary, the closed-loop $$\Lambda $$ -system generates only 1.6 times smaller linewidth in thermal vapour. The absence of population transfer through the microwave field leads to this significant narrowing effect in the M-system which is unachievable in closed-loop $$\Lambda $$ -systems. Hence, M-system has potential application in high-resolution spectroscopy, generation of ultra slow light, phase-dependent optical switching, and in microwave electro- and magnetometry.

High resolution laser spectroscopy of spatially restricted hot alkali atomic and dimer vapor

In this paper we discuss a novel use of a Cs-filled optical cell with micrometric thickness. The cell intrinsically contains an extremely small number of Rb atoms. When heated up to temperatures around 350 $$^\circ $$C, the vapor in the cell consists of: (i) Cs atoms, (ii) an order of magnitude lower concentration $$\hbox {Cs}_2$$ dimers and (iii) a small number of Rb atoms. This mixture is a high density but optically thin alkali vapor layer, and the produced complex ensemble of $$\hbox {Cs}_2$$ diatomic molecules, together with Rubidium and Cesium atoms can be investigated by means of linear/nonlinear spectroscopy. In this work we study the fluorescence and selective reflection spectral profiles of Rb atoms in the presence of high-density Cs atoms considered as a buffer gas for the Rb atoms and Cs dimers. In addition, the Rb hyperfine transition spectrum is used as a precise frequency reference for the measurement of the spectral profile widths and the frequency positions of the experimentally registered spectral lines of $$\hbox {Cs}_2$$ molecules in the spectral region around the Rb $$\hbox {D}_2$$ resonance line.

Generation of correlated biphoton via four-wave mixing coexisting with multi-order fluorescence processes

We investigate the parametrically amplified four-wave mixing, spontaneous parametric four-wave-mixing, second- and fourth-order fluorescence signals coming from the four-level double-Λ electromagnetically induced transparency system of a hot 85Rb atomic vapor. The biphoton temporal correlation is obtained from spontaneous parametric four-wave-mixing and fourth-order fluorescence processes. Meanwhile, we first observed the biphoton Rabi oscillation with a background of linear Rayleigh scattering and uncorrelated second-order fluorescence. The outcomes of the investigation may contribute potentially to the applications in dense coding quantum communication systems.

Robust Coherent Transport of Light in Multilevel Hot Atomic Vapors.

Using a model system, we demonstrate both experimentally and theoretically that coherent scattering of light can be robust in hot atomic vapors despite a significant Doppler effect. By operating in a linear regime of far-detuned light scattering, we also unveil the emergence of interference triggered by inelastic Stokes and anti-Stokes transitions involving the atomic hyperfine structure.

Atomic-frequency-comb quantum memory via piecewise adiabatic passage

In this work, we propose a method to create an atomic frequency comb (AFC) in hot atomic vapors using the piecewise adiabatic passage (PAP) technique. Due to the Doppler effect, the trains of pulses used for PAP give rise to a velocity-dependent transfer of the atomic population from the initial state to the target one, thus forming a velocity comb whose periodicity depends not only on the repetition rate of the applied pulses but also on the specific atomic transitions considered. We highlight the advantages of using this transfer technique with respect to standard methods and discuss, in particular, its application to store a single telecom photon in an AFC quantum memory using a high density Ba atomic vapor.

Improvement of light storage efficiency using targetable optical pumping

We report on improved light storage efficiency in a hot rubidium atomic vapor cell achieved using an additional pump field for optical pumping to a target state. When this targetable optical pumping is applied to light storage based on an electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) configuration with orthogonal polarizations, the light storage efficiency increases to three times that of the EIT storage without optical pumping. The cause of this improvement in the light storage efficiency is targetable optical pumping to a specific Zeeman sub-state, which makes the pump field necessary in order to achieve a complete EIT scheme.

Dressing control of biphoton waveform transitions

We experimentally realize and theoretically analyze narrow-band biphotons generated in a hot rubidium vapor cell by four-wave-mixing processing. A dressing laser beam is used to alternate both linear and nonlinear susceptibilities of the vapor, thereby modifying the biphoton's temporal correlation function. Most notably, the correlation time is increased from 6 to 165 ns. The biphoton shape is also shown to change as a result of the coupled-states dressing. We observed Rabi oscillations and optical precursors in hot atomic vapor cells. We also theoretically simulated biphoton correlation times as influenced by dressing-laser detuning and power, the results of which are consistent with our experiments.

Excitation transfer from second to first resonance line of potassium observed in hot atomic vapor

We present experimental investigation on the fluorescence profiles observed by excitation of the hyperfine transitions of the second resonance line of potassium with a wavelength of 404.4 nm in dependence on the atomic density. This leads to both direct decay of the excited level population to the ground state (violet fluorescence), and to cascade decay via the first resonance lines (infrared fluorescence). It has been shown that the behavior of these two fluorescence profiles is different: increasing the atomic density, the violet fluorescence profile exhibits a well-pronounced self-absorption dip, while the infrared line does not show any narrow-width reduced absorption structure. Moreover, the profiles of the infrared line have a higher signal-to-noise ratio than that of the violet line. Our investigations show that beside atomic population, atomic polarization is also transferred by the cascade transitions. This is evidenced by registration of coherent magneto-optical resonances at the two fluorescence lines. The signal-to-noise ratio of these resonances registered at the first resonance line is significantly higher than at those obtained at the second resonance line. The proposed study makes it possible to examine cascade transitions in alkali atoms, particularly the preservation of atomic polarization, i.e. the coherence transfer by cascade transitions.

Two-photon interference in an atom–quantum dot hybrid system

Future quantum networks will need flying qubits and stationary nodes. As for the generation of single photons which may act as flying qubits, resonantly excited single-semiconductor quantum dots are ideal in terms of their on-demand single-photon emission, indistinguishability, and brightness. Atomic systems can effectively act as mediators for photon–photon interactions, storage media, or building blocks for stationary qubits. Here, we hybridize these two systems and investigate the non-classical interference of spectral Lorentzian-shaped photons, fine-tuned between the cesium (Cs)-D1 hyperfine resonances. The temporal delay in the dispersive hot atomic cesium vapor amounts up to 50 times the photons’ initial width and reveals beats on the single quanta. The photons’ indistinguishability is preserved even after atomic-enabled delay. This proves that the interaction with the Cs vapor conserves the photons’ coherence. The role of spectral diffusion in the solid-state emitter is studied in single- and two-photon experiments in light of the strong frequency dependence of the atomic medium. Our results pave the way for efficient hybrid interfaces between quantum dots and hot atomic vapors as storage media in future quantum networks.

Enhancement of phase conjugation degenerate four-wave mixing using a Bessel beam

We report on the enhancement of phase conjugation degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM) in hot atomic Rb vapor by using a Bessel beam as the probe beam. The Bessel beam was generated using cross-phase modulation based on the thermal nonlinear optical effect. Our results demonstrated that the DFWM signal generated by the Bessel beam is about twice as large as that generated by the Gaussian beam, which can be attributed to the extended depth and tight focusing features of the Bessel beam. We also found that a DFWM signal with reasonable intensity can be detected even when the Bessel beam encounters an obstruction on its way, thanks to the self-healing property of the Bessel beam. This work not only indicates that DFWM using a Bessel beam would be of great potential in the fields of high-fidelity communication, adaptive optics, and so on, but also suggests that a Bessel beam would be of significance to enhance the nonlinear process, especially in thick and scattering media.

Dipole–dipole interactions in a hot atomic vapor and in an ultracold gas of Rydberg atoms

In our paper ideal and non-ideal gas media of neutral atoms are analyzed. The first we discuss a dipole broadening of atomic transitions in excited dilute and dense metal vapors. Then the theoretical studies of the dipole–dipole interactions in dense ultracold gas of Rydberg atoms are considered. Possible future experiments on a base of our experimental arrangement are suggested.

Two Step Excitation in Hot Atomic Sodium Vapor

A two step excitation scheme in hot atomic sodium vapor is experimentally investigated. The observed effects reflect a coupling between the 32S, 32P and the 32D states. We present the relative dependence on detuning of the two utilized lasers around λ = 589 nm and 819 nm. Unlike expected, we achieve a higher detuning dependence of the probe and the coupling laser by a factor of approximately three. The presented work aimed for a Rydberg excitation and quantum light storage. Such schemes are usually implemented with a red laser on the D-line transition and a coupling laser of shorter (typically blue) wavelength. Due to the fact that higher P-Rydberg states are approximately two times higher in energy than the 32D state, a two photon transition from the atomic excited 32P state to a Rydberg P state is feasible. This might circumvent laser frequency doubling whereby only two lasers might mediate a three photon process. The scheme of adding three k-vectors allows for electromagnetically induced transparency experiments in which the resulting k-vector can be effectively reduced to zero. By measurements utilizing electric fields and an analysis of the emission spectrum of the atomic vapor, we can exclude the excitation of the P-P two photon transition.

High-contrast sub-Doppler absorption spikes in a hot atomic vapor cell exposed to a dual-frequency laser field

The saturated absorption technique is an elegant method widely used in atomic and molecular physics for high-resolution spectroscopy, laser frequency standards and metrology purposes. We have recently discovered that a saturated absorption scheme with a dual-frequency laser can lead to a significant sign reversal of the usual Doppler-free dip, yielding a deep enhanced-absorption spike. In this paper, we report detailed experimental investigations of this phenomenon, together with a full in-depth theoretical description. It is shown that several physical effects can support or oppose the formation of the high-contrast central spike in the absorption profile. The physical conditions for which all these effects act constructively and result in very bright Doppler-free resonances are revealed. Apart from their theoretical interest, results obtained in this manuscript are of great interest for laser spectroscopy and laser frequency stabilization purposes, with applications in laser cooling, matter-wave sensors, atomic clocks or quantum optics.

Experimental observation of multi-spatial-mode quantum correlations in four-wave mixing with a conical pump and a conical probe

Extensive attention has been drawn in generating multimode quantum states in recent years. Many efforts have been made during the last decade to produce such states. In this paper, we have experimentally demonstrated a scheme for generating a multi-spatial-mode quantum light source by a non-degenerated four-wave mixing process with a conical pump and a conical probe in a hot atomic vapor cell. The degree of the intensity-difference squeezing between the generated twin beams is about −4.1 dB. Due to the similar conical shape of the concentric quantum correlated beams, both the amplified probe and the generated conjugate beams can be decomposed into many angular modes. We have also experimentally verified the multi-spatial-mode nature of the generated quantum correlation by comparing the noise levels' variation tendencies of global attenuation and local cutting attenuations. In addition, we have also found the optimal values of each parameter in this scheme for further applications. Due to our scheme's advantages such as compactness, phase-insensitivity, and easy scalability, we have already shown a promising candidate for generating multi-spatial-mode quantum states, which may find potential applications in quantum metrology and quantum imaging, such as quantum-enhanced superresolution and the generation of multiple quantum correlated images.

Bright narrowband biphoton generation from a hot rubidium atomic vapor cell

We demonstrate the generation of high-quality narrowband biphotons from a Doppler-broadened hot rubidium atomic vapor cell. Choosing a double-Λ atomic energy level scheme for optimizing both spontaneous four-wave mixing nonlinear parametric interaction and electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT), we achieve a biphoton spectral brightness as high as 14 000 s−1 MHz−1. Meanwhile, we apply a spatially tailored optical pumping beam for reduction of the Raman noise and obtain a violation of the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality by a factor of 1023.

Bichromatic homodyne detection of broadband quadrature squeezing.

We experimentally study a homodyne detection technique for the characterization of a quadrature squeezed field where the correlated bands, here created by four-wave mixing in a hot atomic vapor, are separated by a large frequency gap of more than 6 GHz. The technique uses a two-frequency local oscillator to detect the fluctuations of the correlated bands at a frequency accessible to the detection electronics. Working at low detection frequency, the method allows for the determination of both the amplitude and the phase of the squeezing spectrum. In particular, we show that the quadrature squeezing created by our four-wave mixing process displays a noise ellipse rotation of π/2 across the squeezing spectrum.

Subnatural-linewidth biphotons from a Doppler-broadened hot atomic vapour cell.

Entangled photon pairs, termed as biphotons, have been the benchmark tool for experimental quantum optics. The quantum-network protocols based on photon–atom interfaces have stimulated a great demand for single photons with bandwidth comparable to or narrower than the atomic natural linewidth. In the past decade, laser-cooled atoms have often been used for producing such biphotons, but the apparatus is too large and complicated for engineering. Here we report the generation of subnatural-linewidth (<6 MHz) biphotons from a Doppler-broadened (530 MHz) hot atomic vapour cell. We use on-resonance spontaneous four-wave mixing in a hot paraffin-coated 87Rb vapour cell at 63 °C to produce biphotons with controllable bandwidth (1.9–3.2 MHz) and coherence time (47–94 ns). Our backward phase-matching scheme with spatially separated optical pumping is the key to suppress uncorrelated photons from resonance fluorescence. The result may lead towards miniature narrowband biphoton sources.

Optical limiting using spatial self-phase modulation in hot atomic sample

In this work, we characterized the performance of optical limiting by self-phase modulation (SPM) in hot atomic vapor cell. The results indicated that the performance of the optical limiter is closely related to the position of the sample cell, which is determined by the Rayleigh lenght of beam. The lowest limiting threshold and clamp output were obtained at the sample position at −10mm from the coordinate origin (the beam waist). The phenomenon was explained well by the theory of SPM and z-scan, which are caused by both Kerr effect and the thermal optical nonlinear effect. This useful information obtained in the meaning of this work is determining the optimal position of the sample cell in the optical limiter and other applications of SPM.

All-optical mode conversion via spatially multimode four-wave mixing

We experimentally demonstrate the conversion of a Gaussian beam to an approximate Bessel–Gauss mode by making use of a non-collinear four-wave mixing (4WM) process in hot atomic vapor. The presence of a strong, spatially non-Gaussian pump both converts the probe beam into a non-Gaussian mode, and generates a conjugate beam that is in a similar non-Gaussian mode. The resulting probe and conjugate modes are compared to the output of a Gaussian beam incident on an annular aperture that is then spatially filtered according to the phase-matching conditions imposed by the 4WM process. We find that the resulting experimental data agrees well with both numerical simulations, as well as analytical formulae describing the effects of annular apertures on Gaussian modes. These results show that spatially multimode gain platforms may be used as a new method of mode conversion.

Temporal intensity correlation of light scattered by a hot atomic vapor

We present temporal intensity correlation measurements of light scattered by a hot atomic vapor. Clear evidence of photon bunching is shown at very short time-scales (nanoseconds) imposed by the Doppler broadening of the hot vapor. Moreover, we demonstrate that relevant information about the scattering process, such as the ratio of single to multiple scattering, can be deduced from the measured intensity correlation function. These measurements confirm the interest of temporal intensity correlation to access non-trivial spectral features, with potential applications in astrophysics.