Session R1: Poster Session III: 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
4:00 PM–4:00 PM, Friday, May 30, 2008
HUB-Robeson Center Room: Alumni Hall
Abstract ID: BAPS.2008.DAMOP.R1.73
Abstract: R1.00073 : Giant Optical Nonlinearities Between Two Matched Pulses
Authors:
Andrew MacRae
(Institute for Quantum Information Science, University of Calgary)
Geoff Campbell
(Institute for Quantum Information Science, University of Calgary)
Zeng-Bin Wang
(Institute for Quantum Information Science, University of Calgary)
Karl-Peter Marzlin
(Institute for Quantum Information Science, University of Calgary)
Alexander Lvovsky
(Institute for Quantum Information Science, University of Calgary)
One of the primary limitations of nonlinear optics is that relatively high intensities are needed to produce a noticeable effect. However, in an atomic system with electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) it is possible to observe nonlinearities at light levels as low as a few photons per atomic cross section [1]. Implementation of the EIT-based nonlinearity with pulsed light may however be challenging as it requires the interacting pulses to propagate at equal group velocities. Recently, a scheme satisfying this requirement was proposed which employs double EIT in atomic Rubidium-87 [2]. We report on our recent progress towards experimentally realizing this scheme. We have successfully demonstrated a double EIT system in which two separate pulses may be simultaneously slowed or stored. By applying a large, homogenous magnetic field across the atomic vapor, thus splitting the atomic levels, we create a large nonlinear interaction in the form of XPM. *References: [1]: H. Schmidt, and V. Imamo\v{g}lu, Optics Letters 21 23 1996 [2]: Z.B. Wang, K.P. Marzlin, B.C. Sanders, Phys. Rev. Lett. 97 06, 2006
To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2008.DAMOP.R1.73