Electromagnetically induced
transparency (EIT)
Norbert Kalb
19.6.2013
Intro
Absorption
nℏω (n-1)ℏω
ℏω ℏω
a) Detune frequency b) Saturate absorber c) EIT
Suppress absorption by avoiding population in the excited state!
Intro
Outline
1. Basics and first observation
2. EIT with a single atom in a cavity
3. Slow light in ultracold atomic gases
4. Summary
J. Q. You et al., Nature 474, 589 (2011)
Basics and first observation
A dark eigenvector
ℏ 0 Ωp |3
2-level Hamiltonian on resonance: ωc, Ωc
2 Ωp 0 ωp, Ωp
|2
0 0 Ωp |1
ℏ
3-level Hamiltonian on resonance: H = 0 0 Ωc
2 Ω Ωc 0
p
Eigenstates of the Hamiltonian:
1
|𝜑+ = sin 𝜃 1 + cos 𝜃 2 + |3 −1
2
1 |D = Ωp 2 + Ωc 2 Ωc |1 − Ωp |2
|𝜑− = sin 𝜃 1 + cos 𝜃 2 − |3
2
Apply Hamiltonian to |D :
2 Ωp 2 + Ωc 2 0 0 Ωp Ωc 0
H|D = 0 0 Ωc −Ωp = 0 = 0|D
ℏ Ωp Ωc 0 Ωc Ωp − Ωp Ωc
0
|D is eigenvector of H and contains no contribution of the excited state
Basics and first observation
A dark eigenvector
|3
Ωc
Ωp
|2
|1
Eigenstates of the Hamiltonian:
1
|𝜑+ = sin 𝜃 1 + cos 𝜃 2 + |3 −1
2
1 |D = Ωp 2 + Ωc 2 Ωc |1 − Ωp |2
|𝜑− = sin 𝜃 1 + cos 𝜃 2 − |3
2
Apply Hamiltonian to |D :
2 Ωp 2 + Ωc 2 0 0 Ωp Ωc 0
H|D = 0 0 Ωc −Ωp = 0 = 0|D
ℏ Ωp Ωc 0 Ωc Ωp − Ωp Ωc
0
|D is eigenvector of H and contains no contribution of the excited state
Basics and first observation
Interference of excitation paths
|3
|2
|1
Excitation path |2 → |3 Excitation path |1 → |3
|D ∝ Ωc |1 − Ωp |2
Basics and first observation
First experimental observation
ωp
ωc
|3 |3
|2
|1
|1
K. J. Boller et al , PRL 66, 2593 (1991)
Basics and first observation
First experimental observation
ωp
ωc
|3
|2
|1
K. J. Boller et al , PRL 66, 2593 (1991)
Basics and first observation
Linewidth of the EIT feature
Probe the lifetime of the dark state
|2
|1
Both states in |D can not decay spontaneously.
Dephasing mechanisms result in decay time
p p‘ Heisenberg‘s uncertainty principle
• Collisions
∆E ⋅ ∆t ≥ ℏ
⇒ Γ|𝐷 = 1/τ|𝐷
• Fluctuating magnetic fields
• Broadening by applied fields
Γ If Γ ≫ Ωc , treat population transfer by Ωc as perturbation
Transition rate: ν32 ∝ M32 2 ρ E32 ∝ Ωc 2
Broadening of EIT feature is proportional to Ωc 2
M. Fleischhauer et al. , Rev. Mod. Phys. 66, 2593 (2005)
Cavity EIT
Principle
Cavity QED EIT medium
ωp ωp
ωc
Combining both spectra hints at the response of the system
Cavity EIT
Experimental procedure
Empty resonator Cavity QED Cavity EIT
M. Mücke et al., Nature 465, 755 (2010)
Cavity EIT
Multiple atoms
Empty resonator Cavity QED Cavity EIT
N ≈ 15 atoms
Contrast
M. Mücke et al., Nature 465, 755 (2010)
Cavity EIT
Changing the number of atoms
Empty resonator Cavity QED Cavity EIT
N = 7 atoms N = 4 atoms
M. Mücke et al., Nature 465, 755 (2010)
Cavity EIT
A single atom
Empty resonator Cavity QED Cavity EIT
M. Mücke et al., Nature 465, 755 (2010)
Cavity EIT
Coherent control of the system‘s parameters
• Linewidth is proportional to |Ωc|2
• Contrast is limited by the coupling constant g
• Effective light-light interaction mediated by a single atom
M. Mücke et al., Nature 465, 755 (2010)
Slow light
Outline
1. Basics and first observation
2. EIT with a single atom in a cavity
3. Slow light in ultracold atomic gases
4. Summary
J. Q. You et al., Nature 474, 589 (2011)
Slow light
Refractive index of EIT media
Kramers-Kronig relations
Absorption coefficient: A = Im(χ) +∞
1 Im(χ(ω))
Re(χ(ω′ )) = dω
Refractive index: n ≈ 1 + Re(χ)/2 π ω − ω′
−∞
Transmission (%)
• Steep linear feature around
dark state
• Width of the feature is
determined by width of
Ref. index
transparency window ∝|Ωc|2
Probe detuning (MHz)
Slow light
Group velocity and slow pulses
Slope of the refractive index around the dark state?
ωp ωp
ωc ωc
χ = χ N = 1, ωp χ = N ⋅ χ N = 1, ωp
Susceptibility : Response of several atoms adds up!
∝ |Ω𝑐 |2
Group velocity of a pulse in homogeneous media
−1
n ω ω dk c c
k= vg = = =
c dω dn dn
n+ ω 1 + ωp
dω dωp
|Ωc |2
vg ∝
N
L. V. Hau et al., Nature 397, 594 (1999)
Slow light
Experimental setup
Control beam
• BECs have a very high optical density!
Absorption = 1 − e−110 ≈ 1 − 10−48
• Sodium atoms trapped at nK temperature
• Camera 1 helps adjusting the pinhole
• Camera 2 provides the length of the cloud
L. V. Hau et al., Nature 397, 594 (1999)
Slow light
Group velocity measurements
Reference shot
PM
Slow pulse
PM
L. V. Hau et al., Nature 397, 594 (1999)
Slow light
Changing parameters
|Ωc |2
vg ∝
N
L. V. Hau et al., Nature 397, 594 (1999)
Summary
• Opaque media become transparent
when a tailored control field is applied
• Cavity EIT gives rise to strong
non-linearities from single atoms
• Usain Bolt could outrun light!
(Under very restricted conditions)
Dr. Stephan Ritter Manuel Brekenfeld
Thank you for your attention!
