Channelization architecture for wide-band slow light in atomic vapors

Zachary Dutton; Mark Bashkansky; Michael Steiner; John Reintjes

doi:10.1117/12.601714

4 April 2005 Channelization architecture for wide-band slow light in atomic vapors

Zachary Dutton, Mark Bashkansky, Michael Steiner, John Reintjes

Proceedings Volume 5735, Advanced Optical and Quantum Memories and Computing II; (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.601714
Event: Integrated Optoelectronic Devices 2005, 2005, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

We propose a "channelization" architecture to achieve wide-band electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and ultra-slow light propagation in atomic Rb-87 vapors. EIT and slow light are achieved by shining a strong, resonant "pump" laser on the atomic medium, which allows slow and unattenuated propagation of a weaker "signal" beam, but only when a two-photon resonance condition is satisfied. Our wideband architecture is accomplished by dispersing a wideband signal spatially, transverse to the propagation direction, prior to entering the atomic cell. When particular Zeeman sub-levels are used in the EIT system, then one can introduce a magnetic field with a linear gradient such that the two-photon resonance condition is satisfied for each individual frequency component. Because slow light is a group velocity effect, utilizing differential phase shifts across the spectrum of a light pulse, one must then introduce a slight mismatch from perfect resonance to induce a delay. We present a model which accounts for diffusion of the atoms in the varying magnetic field as well as interaction with levels outside the ideal three-level system on which EIT is based. We find the maximum delay-bandwidth product decreases with bandwidth, and that delay-bandwidth product 1 should be achievable with bandwidth 50 MHz (5 ns delay). This is a large improvement over the 1 MHz bandwidths in conventional slow light systems and could be of use in signal processing applications.

Citation Download Citation

Zachary Dutton, Mark Bashkansky, Michael Steiner, and John Reintjes "Channelization architecture for wide-band slow light in atomic vapors", Proc. SPIE 5735, Advanced Optical and Quantum Memories and Computing II, (4 April 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.601714

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