Low-light-level cross-phase modulation by quantum interference

Journal Article · Sat May 15 04:00:00 EDT 2010 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.81.053829· OSTI ID:21413381

Lo, H -Y; Su, P -C; Chen, Y -F ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan (China)

We report on the direct measurement of low-light-level cross-phase modulation (XPM) based on electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in the pulsed regime. A phase shift of 0.02 rad of a probe pulse modulated by a signal pulse with a peak intensity of 3 {mu}W/cm{sup 2} was observed, which is the lowest intensity ever achieved for the N-type EIT-based XPM system. The experimental data make a quantitative prediction of the single-photon-level XPM phase shift arising from two interacting pulses with unequal group velocities that is consistent with the theoretical predictions proposed by Harris and Hau [Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 4611 (1999)]. Furthermore, a proof-of-principle experiment demonstrating an enhancement of the nonlinear optical Kerr effect by shining the signal pulse twice is presented.

• OSTI ID: 21413381
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Journal Name: Physical Review. A Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 81; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BOSONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FORECASTING
INTERFERENCE
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MODULATION
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
OPACITY
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PEAKS
PHASE SHIFT
PHOTONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PULSES
SIGNALS