606 research outputs found
Theory of emission from an active photonic lattice
The emission from a radiating source embedded in a photonic lattice is
calculated. The analysis considers the photonic lattice and free space as a
combined system. Furthermore, the radiating source and electromagnetic field
are quantized. Results show the deviation of the photonic lattice spectrum from
the blackbody distribution, with intracavity emission suppressed at certain
frequencies and enhanced at others. In the presence of rapid population
relaxation, where the photonic lattice and blackbody populations are described
by the same equilibrium distribution, it is found that the enhancement does not
result in output intensity exceeding that of the blackbody at the same
frequency. However, for slow population relaxation, the photonic lattice
population has a greater tendency to deviate from thermal equilibrium,
resulting in output intensities exceeding those of the blackbody, even for
identically pumped structures.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figure
Quantum Fluctuations and Noise in Parametric Processes. I.
A quantum mechanical model for parametric interactions is used to evaluate the effect of the measuring (amplifying) process on the statistical properties of radiation. Parametric amplification is shown to be ideal in the sense that it allows a simultaneous determination of the phase and number of quanta of an electromagnetic wave with an accuracy which is limited only by the uncertainty principle. Frequency conversion via parametric processes is shown to be free of zero-point fluctuations
Field Quantization, Photons and Non-Hermitean Modes
Field quantization in three dimensional unstable optical systems is treated
by expanding the vector potential in terms of non-Hermitean (Fox-Li) modes in
both the cavity and external regions. The cavity non-Hermitean modes (NHM) are
treated using the paraxial and monochromaticity approximations. The NHM
bi-orthogonality relationships are used in a standard canonical quantization
procedure based on introducing generalised coordinates and momenta for the
electromagnetic (EM) field. The quantum EM field is equivalent to a set of
quantum harmonic oscillators (QHO), associated with either the cavity or the
external region NHM. This confirms the validity of the photon model in unstable
optical systems, though the annihilation and creation operators for each QHO
are not Hermitean adjoints. The quantum Hamiltonian for the EM field is the sum
of non-commuting cavity and external region contributions, each of which is sum
of independent QHO Hamiltonians for each NHM, but the external field
Hamiltonian also includes a coupling term responsible for external NHM photon
exchange processes. Cavity energy gain and loss processes is associated with
the non-commutativity of cavity and external region operators, given in terms
of surface integrals involving cavity and external region NHM functions on the
cavity-external region boundary. The spontaneous decay of a two-level atom
inside an unstable cavity is treated using the essential states approach and
the rotating wave approximation. Atomic transitions leading to cavity NHM
photon absorption have a different coupling constant to those leading to photon
emission, a feature resulting from the use of NHM functions. Under certain
conditions the decay rate is enhanced by the Petermann factor.Comment: 38 pages, tex, 2 figures, ps. General expression for decay rate
added. To be published in Journal of Modern Optic
Analysis of effects of macroscopic propagation and multiple molecular orbitals on the minimum in high-order harmonic generation of aligned CO
We report theoretical calculations on the effect of the multiple orbital
contribution in high-order harmonic generation (HHG) from aligned CO with
inclusion of macroscopic propagation of harmonic fields in the medium. Our
results show very good agreements with recent experiments for the dynamics of
the minimum in HHG spectra as laser intensity or alignment angle changes.
Calculations are carried out to check how the position of the minimum in HHG
spectra depends on the degrees of molecular alignment, laser focusing
conditions, and the effects of alignment-dependent ionization rates of the
different molecular orbitals. These analyses help to explain why the minima
observed in different experiments may vary.Comment: 7 figure
Discrete diffraction and shape-invariant beams in optical waveguide arrays
General properties of linear propagation of discretized light in homogeneous
and curved waveguide arrays are comprehensively investigated and compared to
those of paraxial diffraction in continuous media. In particular, general laws
describing beam spreading, beam decay and discrete far-field patterns in
homogeneous arrays are derived using the method of moments and the steepest
descend method. In curved arrays, the method of moments is extended to describe
evolution of global beam parameters. A family of beams which propagate in
curved arrays maintaining their functional shape -referred to as discrete
Bessel beams- is also introduced. Propagation of discrete Bessel beams in
waveguide arrays is simply described by the evolution of a complex
parameter similar to the complex parameter used for Gaussian beams in
continuous lensguide media. A few applications of the parameter formalism
are discussed, including beam collimation and polygonal optical Bloch
oscillations. \Comment: 14 pages, 5 figure
Experimental scheme for unambiguous discrimination of linearly independent symmetric states
We propose an optimal discrimination scheme for a case of four linearly
independent nonorthogonal symmetric quantum states, based on linear optics
only. The probability of discrimination is in agreement with the optimal
probability for unambiguous discrimination among N symmetric states [Phys.
Lett. A \textbf{250}, 223 (1998)]. The experimental setup can be extended for
the case of discrimination among nonorthogonal symmetric quantum states
Non-relativistic limit in the 2+1 Dirac Oscillator: A Ramsey Interferometry Effect
We study the non-relativistic limit of a paradigmatic model in Relativistic
Quantum Mechanics, the two-dimensional Dirac oscillator. Remarkably, we find a
novel kind of Zitterbewegung which persists in this non-relativistic regime,
and leads to an observable deformation of the particle orbit. This effect can
be interpreted in terms of a Ramsey Interferometric phenomenon, allowing an
insightful connection between Relativistic Quantum Mechanics and Quantum
Optics. Furthermore, subsequent corrections to the non-relativistic limit,
which account for the usual spin-orbit Zitterbewegung, can be neatly understood
in terms of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer.Comment: RevTex4 file, color figures, submitted for publicatio
Diffractive Optics for Gravitational Wave Detectors
All-reflective interferometry based on nano-structured diffraction gratings
offers new possibilities for gravitational wave detection. We investigate an
all-reflective Fabry-Perot interferometer concept in 2nd order Littrow mount.
The input-output relations for such a resonator are derived treating the
grating coupler by means of a scattering matrix formalism. A low loss
dielectric reflection grating has been designed and manufactured to test the
properties of such a grating cavity
Orbital angular momentum exchange in an optical parametric oscillator
We present a study of orbital angular momentum transfer from pump to
down-converted beams in a type-II Optical Parametric Oscillator. Cavity and
anisotropy effects are investigated and demostrated to play a central role in
the transverse mode dynamics. While the idler beam can oscillate in a
Laguerre-Gauss mode, the crystal birefringence induces an astigmatic effect in
the signal beam that prevents the resonance of such mode.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures, regular articl
Injection locking of a low cost high power laser diode at 461 nm
Stable laser sources at 461 nm are important for optical cooling of strontium
atoms. In most existing experiments this wavelength is obtained by frequency
doubling infrared lasers, since blue laser diodes either have low power or
large emission bandwidths. Here, we show that injecting less than 10 mW of
monomode laser radiation into a blue multimode 500 mW high power laser diode is
capable of slaving at least 50% of the power to the desired frequency. We
verify the emission bandwidth reduction by saturation spectroscopy on a
strontium gas cell and by direct beating of the slave with the master laser. We
also demonstrate that the laser can efficiently be used within the Zeeman
slower for optical cooling of a strontium atomic beam.Comment: 2nd corrected version (minor revisions); Manuscript accepted for
publication in Review of Scientific Instruments; 5 pages, 6 figure
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