Quantum and Nonlinear Optics Using Waveguides in Atomic Vapors

这个项目的重点是允许一个弱光脉冲控制另一个弱光脉冲的系统。这些系统的动机从实际应用（如通过光通信网络路由光脉冲的低功率“开关”）到量子物理学的基本问题不等。实验研究基于一个很有前途的新平台，该平台由小型设备（波导）组成，可以引导微小的光束穿过原子蒸汽。从这项研究中产生的知识将影响原子、分子和光学物理学的许多不同领域，该项目的重点是通过广泛的研究生和本科生参与研究来培养下一代科学家。所追求的特定系统包括使用被原子蒸气包围的亚波长直径锥形光纤，以及充满原子蒸气的小空心芯光子带隙光纤。在这两种情况下，强非线性都是通过波导在原子介质中引导一个紧密受限的光学模式经过很长的距离而实现的。亚稳氙（一种惰性惰性气体）作为原子蒸气的使用克服了早期使用铷（一种活性碱原子）所带来的主要限制。这些氙基波导系统中增强的非线性将使量子纠缠和非经典态产生的新型研究得以实现。

This project focuses on systems that allow one weak light pulse to control another weak light pulse. The motivation for these systems ranges from practical applications (such as low-power "switches" that route light pulses through optical communication networks), to fundamental issues in quantum physics. The experimental research is based on a promising new platform comprised of small-scale devices (waveguides) that steer tiny beams of light through atomic vapors. The knowledge created from this research will impact a number of different areas in atomic, molecular, and optical physics, and the project centers on training the next generation of scientists through extensive graduate and undergraduate student involvement in the research. The specific systems being pursued involve the use of sub-wavelength diameter tapered optical fibers surrounded by atomic vapors, and small hollow-core photonic bandgap fibers filled with atomic vapors. In both cases, strong nonlinearities are enabled by waveguiding a tightly confined optical mode over a long distance through the atomic medium. The use of metastable xenon (an inert noble gas) as the atomic vapor overcomes major limitations imposed by the earlier use of rubidium (a reactive alkali atom). The enhanced nonlinearities in these xenon-based waveguide systems will allow the realization of new types of research on quantum entanglement and non-classical state generation.