Quantum interference effects of two coherent population trapping states on the atomic spectral lines of a F-e=0 -> F-g=1 transition

We investigate the fluorescence spectrum in a nearly degenerate atomic system of a F-e = 0 -> F-g = 1 transition by analytically solving Schrodinger equations. An ultranarrow fluorescence spectral line in between the two coherent population trapping windows has been found. Our analytic solutions clearly show the origin of the ultranarrow spectral line. Due to quantum interference effects between two coherent population trapping states, the width and intensity of the central spectral line can be controlled by an external magnetic field. Such an effect may be used to detect a magnetic field.

Resolution and noise in ghost imaging with classical thermal light

The resolution and classical noise in ghost imaging with a classical thermal light are investigated theoretically. For ghost imaging with a Gaussian Schell model source, the dependences of the resolution and noise on the spatial coherence of the source and the aperture in the imaging system are discussed and demonstrated by using numerical simulations. The results show that an incoherent source and a large aperture will lead to a good image quality and small noise.

Stimulated Raman adiabatic passage from atomic to molecular Bose-Einstein condensates: Feedback laser-detuning control and suppression of dynamical instability

We present a feedback control scheme that designs time-dependent laser-detuning frequency to suppress possible dynamical instability in coupled free-quasibound-bound atom-molecule condensate systems. The proposed adaptive frequency chirp with feedback is shown to be highly robust and very efficient in the passage from an atomic to a stable molecular Bose-Einstein condensate.

Superluminal optical solitons in a four-level tripod atomic system

With one weak probe field and two strong pumping fields, superluminal optical solitons are formed in a lifetime-broadened four-level tripod atomic medium. With proper parameters, both dark and bright solitons can occur in the highly resonant medium. The corresponding group velocity of the solitons can be superluminal. Meanwhile, the conditions for superluminal solitons occurrence are given.

Controlling the group velocity in a five-level K-type atomic system

The properties of a five-level K-type system are investigated. With the controlling fields, the properties of the dispersion and absorption of the system are changed greatly. The system can produce anomalous dispersion regions with absorption and normal dispersion regions with absorption or transparency. Furthermore, the group velocity can be varied from subluminal to superluminal by varying the intensity of the controlling field and the probe detunings in principle. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ultra-slow atomic beam generation by velocity selective resonance

We describe a method to generate an ultra-slow atomic beam by velocity selective resonance (VSR). A VSR experiment on a metastable helium beam in a magnetic field is presented and the results show that the transverse velocity of the defected beam can be cooled and precisely controlled to less than the recoil velocity, depending on the magnitude of the magnetic field. We extend this idea to a cold atomic cloud to produce an ultra-slow Rb-87 beam that can be used as a source of an atomic fountain clock or a space clock.

The dispersive properties of an excited-doublet four-level atomic system

We have investigated the dispersive properties of excited-doublet four-level atoms interacting with a weak probe field and an intense coupling laser field. We have derived an analytical expression of the dispersion relation for a general excited-doublet four-level atomic system subject to a one-photon detuning. The numerical results demonstrate that for a typical rubidium D1 line configuration, due to the unequal dipole moments for the transitions of each ground state to double excited states, generally there exists no exact dark state in the system. Close to the two-photon resonance, the probe light can be absorbed orgained and propagate in the so-called superluminal form. This system may be used as an optical switch.

The design of a controllable imaging device with the cold atomic medium

Under the circumstance of a Gaussian control field, the cold atomic medium with electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) turns out to be the special medium with the quadratic index distribution which is controllable online. In our study, the optical system occupies a portion of the EIT medium which acts as an imaging device. With the help of the Collins formula, the analytic expression for the spatial distribution of the probe field in the cold atomic medium is obtained as well as the location of the imaging. The methods for improving the visibility of the imaging are proposed in this paper. Moreover, we also show that the shapes of the images on the output are strongly influenced by the intensity of the control field, which provides a potential optical processing method.

Fiber Bragg grating temperature sensor for multiplexed measurement with high resolution

A novel fiber Bragg grating temperature sensor is proposed and experimentally demonstrated with a long-period grating as a linear response edge filter to convert wavelength into intensity-encoded information for interrogation. The sensor is embedded into an aluminum substrate with a larger coefficient of thermal expansion to enhance its temperature sensitivity. A large dynamic range of 110 degreesC and a high resolution of 0.02 degreesC are obtained in the experiments. The technique can be used for multiplexed measurements with one broadband source and one long-period grating, and therefore is low Cost. (C) 2004 Society of PhotoOptical Instrumentation Engineers.