DocumentCode :
3351485
Title :
Coherently induced birefringence
Author :
Wielandy, S. ; Gaeta, A.L.
Author_Institution :
Sch. of Appl. & Eng. Phys., Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY, USA
fYear :
1992
fDate :
23-28 May 1992
Firstpage :
258
Lastpage :
259
Abstract :
Summary form only given. Quantum coherence phenomena offer a powerful method of controlling the optical properties of an atomic vapor, such as the absorption and refractive index. We demonstrate the use of quantum coherence to induce controllable birefringence in an atomic vapor and to thereby provide complete and efficient control over the polarization state of a probe laser beam propagating through the vapor. Quantum coherence has been previously observed to produce small polarization rotations, but these experiments suffered from significant absorption loss and produced rotations of at most a few degrees. Our experiments demonstrate the ability to induce linear or circular birefringence in an initially isotropic system that can be used to change the polarization state of a probe beam from linear to any desired polarization state with a total energy throughput greater than 97%.
Keywords :
birefringence; light coherence; light polarisation; optical pumping; quantum optics; self-induced transparency; atomic vapor; circular birefringence; coherently induced birefringence; initially isotropic system; linear birefringence; polarization state; probe laser beam; quantum coherence phenomena; three-level ladder scheme; Absorption; Atom optics; Atomic beams; Birefringence; Optical control; Optical refraction; Optical variables control; Polarization; Probes; Refractive index;
fLanguage :
English
Publisher :
ieee
Conference_Titel :
Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference, 1999. QELS '99. Technical Digest. Summaries of Papers Presented at the
Conference_Location :
Baltimore, MD, USA
Print_ISBN :
1-55752-576-X
Type :
conf
DOI :
10.1109/QELS.1999.807642
Filename :
807642
Link To Document :
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