456 research outputs found
Thermal breakdown of coherent backscattering: a case study of quantum duality
We investigate coherent backscattering of light by two harmonically trapped
atoms in the light of quantitative quantum duality. Including recoil and
Doppler shift close to an optical resonance, we calculate the interference
visibility as well as the amount of which-path information, both for zero and
finite temperature.Comment: published version with minor changes and an added figur
Magneto-optical rotation of spectrally impure fields and its nonlinear dependence on optical density
We calculate magneto-optical rptation of spectrally impure fileds in an
optically thick cold atmic medium. We show that the spectral impurity leads to
non-linear dependence of the rotation angle on optical density. Using our
calculations, we provide a quanttative analysis of the recent experimental
results of G. Labeyrie et al. [Phys. Rev. A 64, 033402 (2001)] using cold
Rb atoms.Comment: 6 pages, 5 Figures, ReVTeX4, Submitted to PR
Nonlinear lensing mechanisms in a cloud of cold atoms
We present an experimental study of nonlinear lensing of near-resonant light by a cloud of laser-cooled rubidium atoms, specifically aimed at understanding the role of the interaction time between the light and the atomic vapor. We identify four different nonlinear mechanisms, each associated with a different time constant: electronic nonlinearity, Zeeman optical pumping, hyperfine optical pumping and radiation pressure. Our observations can be quite accurately reproduced using a simple rate equation model which allows for a straightforward discussion of the various effects. The results are important for planning more refined experiments on transverse nonlinear optics and self-organization in samples of cold atoms
Large Faraday rotation of resonant light in a cold atomic cloud
We experimentally studied the Faraday rotation of resonant light in an
optically-thick cloud of laser-cooled rubidium atoms. Measurements yield a
large Verdet constant in the range of 200 000 degrees/T/mm and a maximal
polarization rotation of 150 degrees. A complete analysis of the polarization
state of the transmitted light was necessary to account for the role of the
probe laser's spectrum
Multi-spectral piston sensor for co-phasing giant segmented mirrors and multi-aperture interferometric arrays
This paper presents the optical design of a multi-spectral piston sensor
suitable to co-phasing giant segmented mirrors equipping the Future Extremely
Large Telescopes (ELTs). The general theory of the sensor is described in
detail and numerical simulations have been carried out, demonstrating that
direct piston and tip-tilt measurements are feasible within accuracies
respectively close to 20 nm and 10 nano-radians. Those values are compatible
with the co-phasing requirements, although the method seems to be perturbed by
uncorrected atmospheric seein
Light trapping in high-density ultracold atomic gases for quantum memory applications
High-density and ultracold atomic gases have emerged as promising media for
storage of individual photons for quantum memory applications. In this paper we
provide an overview of our theoretical and experimental efforts in this
direction, with particular attention paid to manipulation of light storage (a)
through complex recurrent optical scattering processes in very high density
gases (b) by an external control field in a characteristic electromagnetically
induced transparency configuration.Comment: Submitted to Journal of Modern Optics, Special 2010 PQE Issu
Light transport in cold atoms: the fate of coherent backscattering in the weak localization regime
The recent observation of coherent backscattering (CBS) of light by atoms has
emphasized the key role of the velocity spread and of the quantum internal
structure of the atoms. Firstly, using highly resonant scatterers imposes very
low temperatures of the disordered medium in order to keep the full contrast of
the CBS interference. This criterion is usually achieved with standard laser
cooling techniques. Secondly, a non trivial internal atomic structure leads to
a dramatic decrease of the CBS contrast. Experiments with Rubidium atoms (with
a non trivial internal structure) and with Strontium (with the simplest
possible internal structure) show this behaviour and confirm theoretical
calculations
Light transport in cold atoms and thermal decoherence
By using the coherent backscattering interference effect, we investigate
experimentally and theoretically how coherent transport of light inside a cold
atomic vapour is affected by the residual motion of atomic scatterers. As the
temperature of the atomic cloud increases, the interference contrast
dramatically decreases emphazising the role of motion-induced decoherence for
resonant scatterers even in the sub-Doppler regime of temperature. We derive
analytical expressions for the corresponding coherence time.Comment: 4 pages - submitted to Physical Review Letter
Optical pattern formation with a 2-level nonlinearity
We present an experimental and theoretical investigation of spontaneous
pattern formation in the transverse section of a single retro-reflected laser
beam passing through a cloud of cold Rubidium atoms. In contrast to previously
investigated systems, the nonlinearity at work here is that of a 2-level atom,
which realizes the paradigmatic situation considered in many theoretical
studies of optical pattern formation. In particular, we are able to observe the
disappearance of the patterns at high intensity due to the intrinsic saturable
character of 2-level atomic transitions.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
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