47 research outputs found
Quantum Phonon Optics: Coherent and Squeezed Atomic Displacements
In this paper we investigate coherent and squeezed quantum states of phonons.
The latter allow the possibility of modulating the quantum fluctuations of
atomic displacements below the zero-point quantum noise level of coherent
states. The expectation values and quantum fluctuations of both the atomic
displacement and the lattice amplitude operators are calculated in these
states---in some cases analytically. We also study the possibility of squeezing
quantum noise in the atomic displacement using a polariton-based approach.Comment: 6 pages, RevTe
Ultrafast optical generation of coherent phonons in CdTe1-xSex quantum dots
We report on the impulsive generation of coherent optical phonons in
CdTe0.68Se0.32 nanocrystallites embedded in a glass matrix. Pump probe
experiments using femtosecond laser pulses were performed by tuning the laser
central energy to resonate with the absorption edge of the nanocrystals. We
identify two longitudinal optical phonons, one longitudinal acoustic phonon and
a fourth mode of a mixed longitudinal-transverse nature. The amplitude of the
optical phonons as a function of the laser central energy exhibits a resonance
that is well described by a model based on impulsive stimulated Raman
scattering. The phases of the coherent phonons reveal coupling between
different modes. At low power density excitations, the frequency of the optical
coherent phonons deviates from values obtained from spontaneous Raman
scattering. This behavior is ascribed to the presence of electronic impurity
states which modify the nanocrystal dielectric function and, thereby, the
frequency of the infrared-active phonons