Propagating multi-channel four-wave mixing process in the modulated moving photonic band gap.

Three and four electromagnetically induced transparency windows generate the multi-channel four-wave mixing (FWM) process are observed in a four-level atomic system. The transmission of the probe field and the reflection of the FWM are investigated in the modulated moving photonic band gap structures which are caused by the coupling fields with a relative small detuning offset when scanning detuning frequency of the probe field and the dressing field, respectively. The experimental results show that the more channels spectrum signal of the FWM process can be modulated and the generated multi-channel can be further modulated by adding a dressing field. We have also explained theoretically these experimental results which may have applications in the design of photonic crystal and optical signal amplifiers.

Kerr-nonlinearity-modulated dressed vortex four-wave mixing from photonic band gap.

Considering the fact that the orbital angular momentum of light can be transferred through light-matter interactions, we experimentally induced a dressed vortex four-wave mixing (FWM) with the interaction between a vortex probe beam and an inverted Y-type four-level atomic system with a photonic band gap. Further, the Kerr-nonlinearity-modulated propagation behaviors of the probe and the dressed FWM vortices are investigated, including the spatial shift, splitting, and incompleteness of the vortex shape. Strikingly, the propagation behaviors of the vortex beams can be influenced by the interaction between the nonlinear phase and the spiral phase. This study would promote the development of optical computing and information processing science related to the interactions between optical vortices and samples.

Novel Rydberg eight-wave mixing process controlled in the nonlinear phase of a circularly polarized field.

Eight-wave mixing (EWM) is a seven-order nonlinear process that can reflect nonclassical features within multiple optical fields, thus imparting certain advantages. In this study, we directly observed the EWM spectrum and spatial images that show Rydberg atoms under a circularly polarized probe field in a five-level coherently prepared atomic system. Such circular polarization dressing fields can obtain high-contrast Rydberg EWM overcome the difficulties of several multi-wave mixing (MWM) signals always coexist, and the multi-parameter controlling Rydberg EWM mechanism is established by changing the power and detuning and polarization of the dressing fields. These controllable high-order MWM processes present a contrast ratio of 96% and a narrow linewidth of <30 MHz compared with low-order mixing processes under identical conditions (e.g., six-wave mixing). The corresponding MWM spatial images are presented, and they can partly reflect the underlying nonlinear phase variation, whereas the given theory can predict the experimental results.

Triple-mode squeezing with dressed six-wave mixing.

The theory of proof-of-principle triple-mode squeezing is proposed via spontaneous parametric six-wave mixing process in an atomic-cavity coupled system. Special attention is focused on the role of dressed state and nonlinear gain on triple-mode squeezing process. Using the dressed state theory, we find that optical squeezing and Autler-Towns splitting of cavity mode can be realized with nonlinear gain, while the efficiency and the location of maximum squeezing point can be effectively shaped by dressed state in atomic ensemble. Our proposal can find applications in multi-channel communication and multi-channel quantum imaging.

Dressed Gain from the Parametrically Amplified Four-Wave Mixing Process in an Atomic Vapor.

With a forward cone emitting from the strong pump laser in a thermal rubidium atomic vapor, we investigate the non-degenerate parametrically amplified four-wave mixing (PA-FWM) process with dressing effects in a three-level "double-Λ" configuration both theoretically and experimentally. By seeding a weak probe field into the Stokes or anti-Stokes channel of the FWM, the gain processes are generated in the bright twin beams which are called conjugate and probe beams, respectively. However, the strong dressing effect of the pump beam will dramatically affect the gain factors both in the probe and conjugate channels, and can inevitably impose an influence on the quantum effects such as entangled degree and the quantum noise reduction between the two channels. We systematically investigate the intensity evolution of the dressed gain processes by manipulating the atomic density, the Rabi frequency and the frequency detuning. Such dressing effects are also visually evidenced by the observation of Autler-Townes splitting of the gain peaks. The investigation can contribute to the development of quantum information processing and quantum communications.

Eight-wave mixing process in a Rydberg-dressing atomic ensemble.

We investigate the eight-wave mixing (EWM) process involving highly excited Rydberg states with the assistance of coexisting electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) windows in a thermal 85Rb vapor both theoretically and experimentally. By use of a disturbance-free optical detection method, the Rydberg EWM characterized by multiple sets of spin coherence is presented via the interplay and competition between the dressing-state effects and excitation blockade caused by strong Rydberg-Rydberg interaction. Such interplay and competition can be demonstrated by the intensity evolutions of multi-wave mixing (MWM) signals via controlling the atomic density, the frequency detuning and Rabi frequencies of corresponding laser fields. The observed Rydberg EWM tailored by EIT windows can possess of much narrower linewidth <30MHz and provide a new way for the study of Rydberg effect in the atomic ensemble above room temperature.

Phase Modulation in Rydberg Dressed Multi-Wave Mixing processes.

We study the enhancement and suppression of different multi-waving mixing (MWM) processes in a Rydberg-EIT rubidium vapor system both theoretically and experimentally. The nonlinear dispersion property of hot rubidium atoms is modulated by the Rydberg-Rydberg interaction, which can result in a nonlinear phase shift of the relative phase between dark and bright states. Such Rydberg-induced nonlinear phase shift can be quantitatively estimated by the lineshape asymmetry in the enhancedand suppressed MWM processes, which can also demonstrate the cooperative atom-light interaction caused by Rydberg blockaded regime. Current study on phase shift is applicable to phase-sensitive detection and the study of strong Rydberg-Rydberg interaction.

Rydberg dressing evolution via Rabi frequency control in thermal atomic vapors.

We report for the first time the theoretical and experimental research on Rydberg electromagnetically induced transparency and second-order fluorescence dressing evolution by Rabi frequency control in thermal atomic vapors, in which the controlled results are well explained by the dressing effect and the Rydberg excitation blockade. Based on the certification of the Rydberg excitation blockade fraction through the dependence on principle quantum number n, we obtain dressing evolution curves, consisting of single-dressing and double-dressing in local and nonlocal blockade samples by scanning the probe and dressing fields. In addition, the competition between the Rydberg dressing second-order fluorescence and fourth-order fluorescence is first investigated. A corresponding theory is presented, which is consistent with the experimental results. Such blockade evolution regularity has potential applications in quantum control, and the Rydberg dressing may be useful for investigating multiple-body interactions, as well as for inducing short range interactions in Bose-Einstein condensates.

Suppression and enhancement of coexisting super-fluorescence and multi-wave mixing processes in sodium vapor.

Different aspects of the properties of the coexisting super-fluorescence (SFL), multi-wave mixing with the fluorescence signal in the sodium vapor are studied both theoretically and experimentally. First, by scanning the dressed-state, the properties of these coexisting processes, such as the SFL signal modulated by using the dark and bright states, the interplay between dressed-states, are observed for the first time. Then, by scanning the probe field, the interplay between the one-photon and two-photon processes of the coexisting signals is obtained with or without the external dressing fields. Such control on each process in such coexisting system has an important potential application in quantum communication.

Dressed multi-wave mixing process with Rydberg blockade.

We investigate the way to control multi-wave mixing (MWM) process in Rydberg atoms via the interaction between Rydberg blockade and light field dressing effect. Considering both of the primary and secondary blockades, we theoretically study the MWM process in both diatomic and quadratomic systems, in which the enhancement, suppression and avoided crossing can be affected by the atomic internuclear distance or external electric field intensity. In the diatomic system, we also can eliminate the primary blockade by the dressing effect. Such investigations have potential applications in quantum computing with Rydberg atom as the carrier of qubit.