Fundamentals and Applications of Slow Light by Zhimin

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Fundamentals and Applications of Slow Light by Zhimin Fundamentals and Applications of Slow Light by Zhimin Shi Submitted in Partial Ful¯llment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy Supervised by Professor Robert W. Boyd The Institute of Optics Arts, Sciences and Engineering Edmund A. Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences University of Rochester Rochester, New York 2010 ii To Yuqi (Miles) and Xiang iii Curriculum Vitae Zhimin Shi was born in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China in 1979. He completed his early education in Hangzhou Foreign Language School in 1997. Following that, He studied in Chu Ke Chen Honors College as well as the Department of Optical Engi- neering at Zhejiang University and received B.E. with highest honors in Information Engineering in 2001. He joined the Center for Optical and Electromagnetic Research at Zhejiang University under the supervision of Dr. Sailing He and Dr. Jian-Jun He in 1999, where he focused his study on integrated di®ractive devices for wavelength division multiplexing applications and the performance analysis of blue-ray optical disks. After receiving his M.E. with honors in Optical Engineering from the same university in 2004, he joined the Institute of Optics, University of Rochester and has been studying under the supervision of Prof. Robert W. Boyd. His current research interests include nonlinear optics, nano-photonics, spectroscopic interferometry, ¯ber optics, plasmonics, electromagnetics in nano-composites and meta-materials, etc. iv Publications related to the thesis 1. \Enhancing the spectral sensitivity of interferometers using slow-light media," Z. Shi, R. W. Boyd, D. J. Gauthier and C. C. Dudley, Opt. Lett. 32, 915{917 (2007). 2. \Design of a tunable time-delay element using multiple gain lines for increased fractional delay with high data ¯delity," Z. Shi, R. Pant, Z. Zhu, M. D. Stenner, M. A. Neifeld, D. J. Gauthier, and R. W. Boyd, Opt. Lett. 32, 1986{1988 (2007). 3. \Maximizing the opening of eye diagrams for slow-light systems," R. Pant, M. D. Stenner, M. A. Neifeld, Z. Shi, R. W. Boyd, D. J. Gauthier, Appl. Opt., 46, 6513{6519 (2007). 4. \A Slow-Light Fourier Transform Interferometer," Z. Shi, R. W. Boyd, R. M. Camacho, P. K. Vudyasetu, and J. C. Howell, Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 240801 (2007). 5. \Slow-Light Interferometry: Practical Limitations to Spectroscopic Performance," Z. Shi, and R. W. Boyd, J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 25, C136{C143 (2008). 6. \Discretely tunable optical packet delays using channelized slow light," Z. Shi, and R. W. Boyd, Phys. Rev. A 79, 013805 (2009). 7. \Electromagnetic momenta and forces in dispersive dielectric media," D. H. Bradshaw, Z. Shi, R. W. Boyd, and P. W. Milonni, Opt. Commun., 283, 650{656 (2009). 8. \Demonstration of a low-distortion bidirectionally tunable optical timing module using stimulated Brillouin scattering," Z. Shi, A. Schweinsberg, J. E. Vornehm, Jr., M. A. Mart¶³nezG¶amez,and R. W. Boyd, Phys. Lett. A, 374, 4071{4074 (2010). 9. \Noise Properties of Propagation through Slow- and Fast-Light Media," R. W. Boyd, Z. Shi, and P. W. Milonni, J. Opt., 12, 104007 (2010). 10. \A general quantum model for non-ideal ampli¯ers and attenuators," Z. Shi, P. W. Milonni, and R. W. Boyd, (in preparation). Other publications 1. \Surface-plasmon polaritons on metal-dielectric nanocomposite ¯lms," Z. Shi, G. Piredda, A. C. Liapis, M. A. Nelson, L. Novotny, and R. W. Boyd, Opt. Lett., 34, 3535{3537 (2009). v Conference papers related to the thesis 1. \Slow Light with Gain Induced by Three Photon E®ect in Strongly Driven Two-Level Atoms," Y. Chen, Z. Shi, P. Zerom, and R. W. Boyd, OSA Slow and Fast Light (SL), ME1 (2006). 2. \Distortion-Reduced Pulse-Train Propagation with Large Delay in a Triple Gain Media," Z. Shi, R. W. Boyd, Z. Zhu, D. J. Gauthier, R. Pant, M. D. Stenner and M. A. Neifeld, OSA Slow and Fast Light (SL), WB3 (2006). 3. \Spectroscopic Interferometry Using Slow Light Media," Z. Shi, R. W. Boyd and D. J. Gauthier, FiO/LS (2006). 4. \Distortion-Reduced Pulse-Train Propagation with Large Delay in a Triple Gain Media," Z. Shi, R. W. Boyd, Z. Zhu, D. J. Gauthier, R. Pant, M. D. Stenner and M. A. Neifeld, OSA Slow and Fast Light (SL), WB3 (2006). 5. \Enhancing the Spectral Sensitivity and Resolution of Interferometers Using Slow-Light Media," Z. Shi, R. W. Boyd, D. J. Gauthier, and C. C. Dudley, CLEO/QLES CTuT2 (2007). 6. \Enhancing the Performance of Spectroscopic Interferometers Using Slow-Light Media," Z. Shi, and R. W. Boyd, CQO-9/ICQI 2007 CSuA44 (2007). 7. \A Slow-Light Fourier-Transform Interferometer," Z. Shi, and R. W. Boyd, FiO/LS FThG2 (2007). 8. \Design of a tunable time-delay element with high data ¯delity using dispersion management," Z. Shi, and R. W. Boyd, CLEO/QLES CWQ5 (2008). 9. \Pulse-Distortion Management Using the Pulse-on-Background Method and Multiple Closely Spaced Gain Lines in Slow/Fast Light Propagation," H. Shin, Z. Shi, A. Schweinsberg, G. Gehring, and R. W. Boyd, OSA Slow and Fast Light (SL), STuA3 (2008). 10. \Enhancement of the Spectral Performance of Interferometers Using Slow Light Under Practical Conditions," Z. Shi, and R. W. Boyd, OSA Slow and Fast Light (SL), SWA3 (2008). 11. \Optical Packet Delay Using Channelized Slow Light," Z. Shi, and R. W. Boyd, FiO/LS FThW2 (2008). vi 12. \A bidirectionally tunable optical timing module using stimulated Brillouin scattering," Z. Shi, A. Schweinsberg, J. E. Vornehm, Jr., M. A. Mart¶³nezG¶amez,and R. W. Boyd,, CLEO/QELS, CTuI1 (2010). Other conference papers 1. \Single Photon Source on Demand Based on Single-Colloidal-Quantum-Dot Fluorescence in Chiral Photonic Bandgap Liquid Crystal Hosts," L. J. Bissell, Z. Shi, H. Shin, S. G. Lukishova, S. White, R. W. Boyd, and C. R. Stroud, Jr., CLEO/QELS, JMC4 (2007). 2. \Surface Plasmon Polaritons on Metal-Dielectric Nanocomposite Films," Z. Shi, G. Piredda, A. C. Liapis, M. A. Nelson, L. Novotny, and R. W. Boyd, CLEO/QELS, IThG16 (2009). 3. \Optical Modes on Anisotropic Epsilon-Near-Zero Films," Z. Shi, A. C. Liapis, and R. W. Boyd, FiO/LS FMA2 (2009). vii Acknowledgments The pursuit of a Ph.D. is a journey of adventure, a journey ¯lled with challenges and di±culties. Luckily, I have never been alone but with many guiding lights and companions, which made my journey ¯lled with memorable moments full of joy and pleasure. First, I would like to express my most sincere gratitude to Prof. Robert W. Boyd, my thesis advisor, for his constant guidance, inspiration, support and care over the past six years. My journey would not have been possible if not for Prof. Boyd's keen insights, never-ending encouragement and the persistence to interpreting physical concepts using most intuitive pictures. Furthermore, he has been constantly revealing new territories of research to me, which not only broadens my sights of views, but more importantly, teaches me how to search for treasure islands through the vast and challenging ocean of scienti¯c research. Secondly, I would like to thank Prof. Daniel J. Gauthier at Duke University, Prof. John C. Howell, and Prof. Lukas Novotny, both at the University of Rochester, for their mentoring during the fruitful collaborations. I have learnt a lot of hands-on knowledge from them, and I enjoy very much the scienti¯c conversations with them. I am grateful to Prof. Peter W. Milonni for many collaborative discussions regarding many fundamental problems. His thought-provoking comments and suggestions have always enlightened me and inspired me towards new directions. I want to express my gratitude to Prof. Antonio Badolato for the helping discussion and guidance over the past years. His expertise and experience in photonic crystal and nano-fabrication have vastly enhanced my understanding of the ¯eld and have helped me greatly trav- eling in the realm of nano-photonics. I thank Brian McIntyre for his great course on SEM/TEM and constant support and help in the characterization and fabrica- tion of various nano-photonic materials and devices. I would like to sincerely thank Prof. Govind Agrawal, Prof. Philippe Fauchet and Prof. Antonio Badolato for ac- cepting to serve on my thesis committee, and I appreciate all the suggestions and viii comments that they made on my research e®orts and the thesis. Futhermore, I am always indebted to all the sta® at the Institute of Optics, especially Per Adamson, Maria Schnitzler, Noelene Votens, Joan Christian, Lissa Cotter and Marie Banach, for their endless help and loving care through out my years at the Institute. I am very thankful that I have had wonderful collaborations with Dr. C. C. Dudley, Dr. Zhaoming Zhu, Dr. Ravi Pant, Dr. Michael D. Stenner, Petros Zerom, Heeduek Shin, Luke Bissell, Dr. Svetlana Lukishova, Dr. Mark A. Neifeld, Dr. Ryan M. Cama- cho, Praveen K. Vudyasetu, Dr. Giovanni Piredda, Andreas C. Liapis, Dr. Mark A. Nelson, Dr. Douglas H. Bradshaw, Aaron Schweinsberg, Joseph E. Vornehm, Jr., and Dr. M. Alejandrina Mart¶³nezG¶amez.I also appreciate the generous help from and wonderful discussions with Dr. Alan E. Willner, Dr. Miguel Alonso, Dr. Gary W. Wicks, Dr. Renee Pedrazzani, Brad Deutsch, Sean Anderson, Yi-Ho (Jonathan) Lee, Yijing Fu, Michael Theisen, Dr. Anand K. Jha, Colin O'Sullivan, Dr. Ksenia Dolgaleva, George Gehring, Dr. Kam Wai Cli®ord Chan, Bosheng Gao, Brandon Rodenburg, Dr. Jonathan Leech, Dr. Rob Ilic, Dr. Liu Liu, Dr. Long Chen, Dr. Zhichao Ruan, and all others. I want to express my deepest gratitude to my wife, Xiang, my newly arrived son, Miles, and the rest of my family, who have always be there throughout the lows and the highs with unconditional love and supports.
Recommended publications
  • Slow and Stopped Light by Light-Matter Coherence Control
    Slow and stopped light by light-matter coherence control Jonas Tidström Doctoral Thesis in Photonics Stockholm, Sweden 2009 TRITA-ICT/MAP AVH Report 2009:09 KTH School of Information and ISSN 1653-7610 Communication Theory ISRN KTH/ICT-MAP/AVH-2009:09-SE SE-164 40 Kista ISBN 978-91-7415-429-0 SWEDEN Akademisk avhandling som med tillstånd av Kungl Tekniska Högskolan framlägges till offentlig granskning för avläggande av filosofie doktorsexamen i fotonik, tors- dagen den 29 november 2009 kl 13:15 i sal 432, Forum, Kungl Tekniska Högskolan, Isafjordsgatan 39 Kista. c Jonas Tidström, September 2009 ° Typesset with LATEX 2ε on September 28, 2009 Universitetsservice US AB, September 2009, Abstract In this thesis we study light-matter coherence phenomena related to the interaction of a coherent laser field and the so-called Λ-system, a three-level quantum sys- tem (e.g., an atom). We observe electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT), slow and stored light in hot rubidium vapor. For example, a 6 µs Gaussian pulse 1 propagate at a velocity of 1kms− (to be compared with the normal velocity 1 ∼ of 300 000 km s− ). Dynamic changes of the control parameter allows us to slow down a pulse to a complete stop, store it for 100 µs, and then release it. During the storage time, and also during the release∼ process, some properties of the light pulse can be changed, e.g., frequency chirping of the pulse is obtained by means of Zeeman shifting the energy levels of the Λ-system. If, bichromatic continuous light fields are applied we observe overtone generation in the beating signal, and a narrow ‘dip’ in overtone generation efficiency on two-photon resonance, narrower than the ‘coherent population trapping’ transparency.
    [Show full text]
  • PHYS 352 Electromagnetic Waves
    Part 1: Fundamentals These are notes for the first part of PHYS 352 Electromagnetic Waves. This course follows on from PHYS 350. At the end of that course, you will have seen the full set of Maxwell's equations, which in vacuum are ρ @B~ r~ · E~ = r~ × E~ = − 0 @t @E~ r~ · B~ = 0 r~ × B~ = µ J~ + µ (1.1) 0 0 0 @t with @ρ r~ · J~ = − : (1.2) @t In this course, we will investigate the implications and applications of these results. We will cover • electromagnetic waves • energy and momentum of electromagnetic fields • electromagnetism and relativity • electromagnetic waves in materials and plasmas • waveguides and transmission lines • electromagnetic radiation from accelerated charges • numerical methods for solving problems in electromagnetism By the end of the course, you will be able to calculate the properties of electromagnetic waves in a range of materials, calculate the radiation from arrangements of accelerating charges, and have a greater appreciation of the theory of electromagnetism and its relation to special relativity. The spirit of the course is well-summed up by the \intermission" in Griffith’s book. After working from statics to dynamics in the first seven chapters of the book, developing the full set of Maxwell's equations, Griffiths comments (I paraphrase) that the full power of electromagnetism now lies at your fingertips, and the fun is only just beginning. It is a disappointing ending to PHYS 350, but an exciting place to start PHYS 352! { 2 { Why study electromagnetism? One reason is that it is a fundamental part of physics (one of the four forces), but it is also ubiquitous in everyday life, technology, and in natural phenomena in geophysics, astrophysics or biophysics.
    [Show full text]
  • Slow-Light Enhancement of Radiation Pressure in an Omnidirectional-Reflector Waveguide M
    APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS VOLUME 85, NUMBER 9 30 AUGUST 2004 Slow-light enhancement of radiation pressure in an omnidirectional-reflector waveguide M. L. Povinelli,a) Mihai Ibanescu, Steven G. Johnson, and J. D. Joannopoulos Department of Physics and the Center for Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 (Received 23 January 2004; accepted 6 July 2004) We study the radiation pressure on the surface of a waveguide formed by omnidirectionally reflecting mirrors. In the absence of losses, the pressure goes to infinity as the distance between the mirrors is reduced to the cutoff separation of the waveguide mode. This divergence at constant power input is due to the reduction of the modal group velocity to zero, which results in the magnification of the electromagnetic field. Our structure suggests a promising alternative, microscale system for observing the variety of classical and quantum-optical effects associated with radiation pressure in Fabry–Perot cavities. © 2004 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.1786660] The group velocity of light can be dramatically slowed low-dielectric layers with period a. For definiteness, we take in photonic crystals. Slow light enhances a variety of optical the refractive indices to be nhi=3.45 and nlo=1.45, corre- ␮ phenomena, including nonlinear effects, phase-shift sponding to Si and SiO2 at 1.55 m. The relative layer thick- 1 sensitivity, and low-threshold laser action due to distributed nesses are determined by the quarter-wave condition nhidhi 2,3 feedback gain enhancement. Here, we demonstrate that =nlodlo, which we later show to be an optimal case, along slow light can also enhance radiation pressure.
    [Show full text]
  • Slow Light in Optical Waveguides
    Slow Light in Optical Waveguides Zhaoming Zhu and Daniel J. Gauthier Department of Physics, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708 Alexander L. Gaeta School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 Robert W. Boyd Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627 As evidenced by this Volume, there has been a flurry of activity over the last decade on tailoring the dispersive properties of optical materials [1]. What has captured the attention of the research community were some of the early results on creating spectral regions of large normal dispersion [2–4]. Large normal dispersion results in extremely small group velocities, where the group velocity is the approximate speed at which a pulse of light propagates through a material. We denote the group velocity by υg = c/ng, where c is the speed of light in vacuum and ng is known as the group index. In the early experiments, described in greater detail in Chapter *, a dilute gas of atoms is illuminated by a “control” or “coupling” beam whose frequency is tuned precisely to an optical transition of an atom. This control field modifies the absorption and dispersion properties of another atomic transition that share a common energy level. A narrow transparency window is created on this second transition – a process known as electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) – and, within this window, υg takes on extremely small values. Many experiments have now observed υg ∼ 1 8 m/s or less, implying ng > 10 . This result is remarkable considering that fact that the refractive index n of a material rarely exceeds 3 in the visible part of the spectrum.
    [Show full text]
  • High Figure of Merit Optical Buffering in Coupled-Slot Slab Photonic
    nanomaterials Article High Figure of Merit Optical Buffering in Coupled-Slot Slab Photonic Crystal Waveguide with Ionic Liquid Israa Abood 1,2, Sayed Elshahat 2,3,4 and Zhengbiao Ouyang 1,2,* 1 College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; [email protected] 2 THz Technical Research Center of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen. Key Laboratory of Micro-nano Photonic Information Technology, Key Laboratory of Optoelectronics Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; [email protected] 3 Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China 4 Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut 71516, Egypt * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 8 July 2020; Accepted: 26 August 2020; Published: 3 September 2020 Abstract: Slow light with adequate low group velocity and wide bandwidth with a flat band of the zero-dispersion area were investigated. High buffering capabilities were obtained in a silicon-polymer coupled-slot slab photonic crystal waveguide (SP-CS-SPCW) with infiltrating slots by ionic liquid. A figure of merit (FoM) around 0.663 with the lowest physical bit length Lbit of 4.6748 µm for each stored bit in the optical communication waveband was gained by appropriately modifying the square air slot length. Posteriorly, by filling the slots with ionic liquid, the Lbit was enhanced to be 4.2817 µm with the highest FoM of 0.72402 in wider transmission bandwidth and ultra-high bit rate in terabit range, which may become useful for the future 6G mobile communication network. Ionic liquids have had a noticeable effect in altering the optical properties of photonic crystals.
    [Show full text]
  • Fast- and Slow-Light-Enhanced Light Drag in a Moving Microcavity
    ARTICLE https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-020-0386-3 OPEN Fast- and slow-light-enhanced light drag in a moving microcavity Tian Qin 1, Jianfan Yang1, Fangxing Zhang1, Yao Chen1, Dongyi Shen2, Wei Liu2, Lei Chen2, Xiaoshun Jiang3, ✉ Xianfeng Chen2 & Wenjie Wan 1 1234567890():,; Fizeau’s experiment, inspiring Einstein’s special theory of relativity, reveals a small dragging effect acting on light inside a moving medium. Dispersion can enhance such light drag according to Lorentz’s predication. Here fast- and slow-light-enhanced light drag is demon- strated experimentally in a moving optical microcavity through stimulated Brillouin scattering induced transparency and absorption. The strong dispersion provides an enhancement factor up to ~104, greatly reducing the system size down to the micrometer range. These results may offer a unique platform for a compact, integrated solution to motion sensing and ultrafast signal processing applications. 1 The State Key Laboratory of Advanced Optical Communication Systems and Networks, University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200240 Shanghai, China. 2 MOE Key Laboratory for Laser Plasmas and Collaborative Innovation Center of IFSA, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200240 Shanghai, China. 3 National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures and College of ✉ Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, 210093 Nanjing, China. email: [email protected] COMMUNICATIONS PHYSICS | (2020) 3:118 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-020-0386-3 | www.nature.com/commsphys 1 ARTICLE COMMUNICATIONS PHYSICS | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-020-0386-3 t is well-known that the speed of light in a vacuum is the same In this work, we experimentally demonstrate strong normal regardless of the choice of reference frame, according Ein- and anomalous dispersion enhanced light dragging effect arising I ’ 1 stein s theory of special relativity .
    [Show full text]
  • Improved Spectral Performance of Fourier Transform Interferometer Utilizing Slow Light Medium
    See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: http://www.researchgate.net/publication/258712705 Improved spectral performance of Fourier transform interferometer utilizing slow light medium ARTICLE in PROCEEDINGS OF SPIE - THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR OPTICAL ENGINEERING · FEBRUARY 2012 Impact Factor: 0.2 · DOI: 10.1117/12.915296 READS 13 5 AUTHORS, INCLUDING: Yundong Zhang Cai Yuanxue Harbin Institute of Technology Tianjin University of Science and Technology 101 PUBLICATIONS 228 CITATIONS 10 PUBLICATIONS 25 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE Jin Li Ping Yuan Northeastern University (Shenyang, China) Harbin Institute of Technology 44 PUBLICATIONS 41 CITATIONS 89 PUBLICATIONS 195 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE Available from: Jin Li Retrieved on: 21 October 2015 Invited Paper Improved spectral performance of Fourier transform interferometer utilizing slow light medium Yundong Zhang, Yuanxue Cai, Changqiu Yu, Jin Li, and Ping Yuan National Key Laboratory of Tunable Laser Technology, Institute of Opto-Electronics, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, China *Corresponding author: [email protected] ABSTRACT We experimentally demonstrate that the spectral resolution of Fourier transform interferometer could be greatly enhanced by utilizing the dispersive property of semiconductor GaAs in the near infrared region and it is inversely proportional to the maximum group delay time that can be achieved in the system. The spectral resolution could be increased 6 times approximately by using GaAs contrast with conventional FT interferometer under the same conditions. Keywords: Slow Light, Fourier Transform Interferometer, Spectral Resolution INTRODUCTION Recently, there has been considerable interest in developing practical applications of slow light method in many fields such as spectroscopy [1-4], telecommunication [5] and laser gyroscope [6].
    [Show full text]
  • Slow Light - Perspective and Applications
    FA0 Slow light - perspective and applications Thomas F. Krauss SUPA, School of Physics & Astronomy, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9SS, United Kingdom [email protected] The phenomenon of slow light is discussed, with a focus on slow light structures based on photonic crystals. Slow light offers field enhancement for increased nonlinear interaction, phase enhancement in devices such as Mach-Zehnder modulators and the possibility of controllable delay time. We believe that bandwidth is a key parameter and have now demonstrated a slow light structure that can accommodate 2.5 THz of bandwidth. Furthermore, slow light can only be useful if it is not compromised by losses. Due to recent improvements in our technology, we can now achieve losses of order 4 dB/cm, which is amongst the best reported for single mode photonic crystal waveguides. Keywords: Slow light, photonic crystals, optical waveguides Introduction The phenomenon of slow light has captured the imagination of many researchers in the last few years because it offers an important level of control over light-matter interactions. So far, the slowdown of light has mainly been pursued in atomic media, most notably via electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT), but also in semiconductors featuring population oscillations, nonlinear gain and loss characteristics as well as in fibres. More recently, slow light has also been demonstrated in dielectric structures, especially coupled ring resonators [1,2] and photonic crystals [3] and it is the latter that this paper is focused on. The keen interest in slow light in dielectrics is motivated by the fact that slow light adds functionality to a material by structuring alone.
    [Show full text]
  • Balancing Interferometers with Slow-Light Elements
    March 15, 2011 / Vol. 36, No. 6 / OPTICS LETTERS 933 Balancing interferometers with slow-light elements Alireza Marandi,* Brian T. Lantz, and Robert L. Byer Ginzton Laboratory, Stanford University, 450 Via Palou, Stanford, California 94305-4088, USA *Corresponding author: [email protected] Received December 7, 2010; revised February 9, 2011; accepted February 10, 2011; posted February 18, 2011 (Doc. ID 139284); published March 10, 2011 In this Letter we show that interferometers with unbalanced arm lengths can be balanced using optical elements with appropriate group delays. For matched group delays of the arms, the balanced interferometer becomes insen- sitive to the frequency noise of the source. For experimental illustration, a ring resonator is employed as a slow-light element to compensate the arm-length mismatch of a Mach–Zehnder interferometer. An arm-length mismatch of 9:4 m is compensated by a ring resonator with a finesse of 70 and a perimeter of 42 cm. © 2011 Optical Society of America OCIS codes: 120.3180, 260.2030, 120.5050. Measurements with interferometric sensors can be very Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of an MZI that has sensitive to the frequency noise of the source if the arm a lossless dispersive element with length of L3 in one lengths are not matched. This can happen in many appli- arm. The output current of the balanced detector is given cations where matching the arm lengths physically is not by easily achievable. Stabilizing the frequency of the source ¼ ð Δ − þ ϕ Þ ð Þ by locking it to a stable reference can improve the noise Iout I0 cos k0 L k3L3 0 ; 1 performance of the sensor to some extent [1].
    [Show full text]
  • Stationary Light in Atomic Media
    Stationary light in atomic media Jesse L. Everett1,2, Daniel B. Higginbottom1,3, Geoff T. Campbell1, Ping Koy Lam1, and Ben C. Buchler1 1Centre for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia 2Light-Matter Interactions for Quantum Technologies Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, 904 - 0495, Japan. 3Department of Physics, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5A 1S6 When ensembles of atoms interact with co- counterpropagating optical fields and can be tuned to herent light fields a great many interesting and manipulate the localization of light fields and atomic useful effects can be observed. In particular, excitations inside the ensemble. the group velocity of the coherent fields can be The original SL proposal [3] was followed in quick modified dramatically. Electromagnetically in- succession by a first experimental demonstration in duced transparency is perhaps the best known hot atomic vapor [6] and alternative SL schemes, some example, giving rise to very slow light. Care- with an alternative physical picture of the underlying ful tuning of the optical fields can also produce mechanism [7]. Although early demonstrations were stored light where a light field is mapped com- described in terms of standing wave modulated grat- pletely into a coherence of the atomic ensem- ings, this picture does not apply to hot atoms due to ble. In contrast to stored light, in which the thermal atomic motion. A subsequent multi-wave mix- optical field is extinguished, stationary light is ing formulation [7, 8] more comprehensively explains a bright field of light with a group velocity of the complex behaviours resulting from combinations zero.
    [Show full text]
  • Slow Light Enhanced Correlated Photon Pair Generation in Photonic-Crystal Coupled-Resonator Optical Waveguides
    Slow light enhanced correlated photon pair generation in photonic-crystal coupled-resonator optical waveguides Nobuyuki Matsuda1,2, Hiroki Takesue1, Kaoru Shimizu1, Yasuhiro Tokura1,†, Eiichi Kuramochi1,2, Masaya Notomi1,2 1NTT Basic Research Laboratories, NTT Corporation, Atsugi, Kanagawa 243-0198, Japan 2Nanophotonics Center, NTT Corporation, Atsugi, Kanagawa 243-0198, Japan *[email protected] †Present address: Graduate School of Pure and Applied Science, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8571, Japan - 1 - Abstract We demonstrate the generation of quantum-correlated photon pairs from a Si photonic-crystal coupled-resonator optical waveguide. A slow-light supermode realized by the collective resonance of high-Q and small-mode-volume photonic-crystal cavities successfully enhanced the efficiency of the spontaneous four-wave mixing process. The generation rate of photon pairs was improved by two orders of magnitude compared with that of a photonic-crystal line defect waveguide without a slow-light effect. 1. Introduction Integrating quantum photonic devices on a small chip [1-17] is under intense study with a view to achieving quantum communication and computation technologies, which have the potential to outperform classical information processing [18-22]. For this purpose, it is crucial to develop sources of non-classical states of light such as single photons and correlated photon pairs on an integrated photonic circuit platform [8-17]. To perform protocols that handle a large number of photonic qubits simultaneously [19-21], we require many independent sources each of which must guarantee stable operation in a simple setup preferably at room temperature. In this regard, photon pair sources based on second- or third- order nonlinear parametric processes in a nonlinear crystal or a waveguide are widely used [8-17, 23-26].
    [Show full text]
  • Study of Slow Light Surface Plasmons
    Study of Slow Light Surface Plasmons by Abraham Vázquez Guardado A Dissertation Submitted to the Program in Optics, Optics Department in Partial Fullfillment of the Requierements for the Degree of Master of Science in Optics at the National Institute for Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics July 2012 Santa María Tonantzintla, Puebla Advisors: Prof. José Javier Sánchez Mondragón1 Prof. Miguel Torres Cisneros2 1 INAOE 2 University of Guanajuato © INAOE 2012 All rights reserved The author hereby grants to INAOE permission to reproduce and to distribute copies of this thesis document in whole o in part. Study of Slow Light Surface Plasmons Estudio de Plasmones Superficiales Lentos Ing. Abraham Vázquez Guardado INAOE Coordinación de Óptica Tesis de Maestría en Ciencias Especialidad en Óptica Asesores: Dr. José Javier Sánchez Mondragón Dr. Miguel Torres Cisneros Sta. María Tonantzintla, Pue. México Julio 2012 Summary INAOE 2012 Summary In this thesis we study and analyze the Slow Light (SL) property of Surface Plasmon– Polaritions (SPPs) for three cases, for lossless metals, for lossy metals, and for this latter but considering an active dielectric. In the first case, we study the qualitative property of SL in SPPs in a metal/dielectric and dielectric/metal/dielectric waveguide. Despite it is an unrealistic approach, the study is suitable to understand the general problem. Then we proceed with the following case when metal losses are considered in both waveguides. It is here where we observe how the SL property of SPP is affected. In addition, propagation losses in the SL regime are considerably high such that even when a moderate high group index can be achieved the propagation length never surpass one micron.
    [Show full text]