Blue-light induced infrared absorption in KNbO3

We have used a high-finesse cavity to measure the cw intensity dependence and dynamics of blue-light-induced infrared absorption (BLIIRA) in KNbO3 crystals for blue-light intensities between 7 x 10^-4 and 2 x 10^4 W/cm^2. We discuss the detrimental effects of BLIIRA on the efficiency of intracavity frequency doubling and the threshold for parametric oscillation

High fidelity teleportation between light and atoms

We show how high fidelity quantum teleportation of light to atoms can be achieved in the same setup as was used in the recent experiment [J. Sherson et.al., quant-ph/0605095, accepted by Nature], where such an inter-species quantum state transfer was demonstrated for the first time. Our improved protocol takes advantage of the rich multimode entangled structure of the state of atoms and scattered light and requires simple post-processing of homodyne detection signals and squeezed light in order to achieve fidelities up to 90% (85%) for teleportation of coherent (qubit) states under realistic experimental conditions. The remaining limitation is due to atomic decoherence and light losses.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Quantum interference in two-photon excitation with squeezed and coherent fields

Two-photon excitation of a three-level atom in a ladder configuration (1-->2-->3) by simultaneous illumination with fields in squeezed vacuum and coherent states results in quantum interference for the excitation process. The particular configuration considered here is one for which the signal and idler output fields of a subthreshold nondegenerate optical parametric oscillator are in resonance with the two-stepwise dipole atomic transitions (1-->2,2-->3), while a "reference oscillator" field is in two-photon resonance with the quadrupole transition (1-->3). In an extension of the work of Ficek and Drummond [Phys. Rev. A 43, 6247 (1991)], a theoretical formulation based on the full quantum master equation for the problem is presented. The combined effects of quantum interference and the nonclassical character of the squeezed state are investigated, and offer the potential for a new detection strategy for quantum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field with ultrahigh frequencies (10's-100's THz). Based on the theory developed, we analyze quantum interference in excitation in several special cases relevant to experimental realizations, including the effects of a small focusing angle of the squeezing onto the atoms, and unusual population inversions. Special emphasis is given to identifying intrinsically quantum optical field effects versus classical field effects. Procedures that could distinguish between the two (i.e., classical and nonclassical) are suggested

Spin squeezing of atomic ensembles by multi-colour quantum non-demolition measurements

We analyze the creation of spin squeezed atomic ensembles by simultaneous dispersive interactions with several optical frequencies. A judicious choice of optical parameters enables optimization of an interferometric detection scheme that suppresses inhomogeneous light shifts and keeps the interferometer operating in a balanced mode that minimizes technical noise. We show that when the atoms interact with two-frequency light tuned to cycling transitions the degree of spin squeezing $\xi^2$ scales as $\xi^2\sim 1/d$ where $d$ is the resonant optical depth of the ensemble. In real alkali atoms there are loss channels and the scaling may be closer to $\xi^2\sim 1/\sqrt d.$ Nevertheless the use of two-frequencies provides a significant improvement in the degree of squeezing attainable as we show by quantitative analysis of non-resonant probing on the Cs D1 line. Two alternative configurations are analyzed: a Mach-Zehnder interferometer that uses spatial interference, and an interaction with multi-frequency amplitude modulated light that does not require a spatial interferometer.Comment: 7 figure

Atoms as nonlinear mixers for detection of quantum correlations at ultrahigh frequencies

Measurements of quantum correlations are reported for a frequency difference of 25 THz between the signal and idler output fields generated by a subthreshold nondegenerate optical parametric oscillator. By simultaneously exciting a two-photon transition in atomic Cs by a combination of signal, idler, and "references oscillator" fields, we record modulation of the excited-state population due to quantum interference between two alternative excitation pathways. The observed phase-sensitive modulation is proportional to the correlation function〈EsEi〉for the quantized signal and idler fields

Two-photon spectroscopy of the 6S_(1/2) → 6D_(5/2) transition of trapped atomic cesium

Two-photon spectroscopy of atomic cesium confined and cooled in a magneto-optical trap is reported. The hyperfine structure of the 6D_(5/2) state is determined with 1% accuracy. New capabilities for studying ac Stark shifts and kinetic transport for cold atoms are suggested