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Constructive and destructive quantum interference sensitive to quantum vacuum mode structure in a metallic waveguide

Journal Article · · Physical Review. A
 [1]
  1. Centre for Optical and Electromagnetic Research, State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentations, and Joint Research Laboratory of Optics of Zhejiang University and Zhejiang Normal University, East Building No. 5, Zijingang Campus of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058 (China)
Quantum vacuum mode structure can be changed due to length scale fluctuation of the cross section of a metallic waveguide. Such a structure change in vacuum modes (particularly in cutoff vacuum modes) would lead to dramatic enhancement or inhibition of spontaneous emission decay of atoms and, if the waveguide is filled with a dilute atomic vapor consisting of quantum-coherent atoms of a four-level tripod-configuration system, an optical wave propagating inside the waveguide can be coherently manipulated by tunable constructive and destructive quantum interference between two control transitions (driven by two control fields) in a quite unusual way (e.g., the optical response, in which a three-level dark state is involved, is sensitive to the waveguide dimension variations at certain positions of resonance of the atomic spontaneous emission decay rate). Therefore, an intriguing effect that can be employed to designs of new photonic and quantum optical devices could be achieved based on the present mechanisms of quantum-vacuum manipulation and quantum coherence control.
OSTI ID:
22095729
Journal Information:
Physical Review. A, Journal Name: Physical Review. A Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 84; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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