Image Storage in Hot Vapors

TL;DR

This paper explores how images can be stored and reconstructed in hot atomic vapors using a $4f$ imaging system and atomic Raman coherence, with high fidelity maintained through destructive interference of diffusion effects.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical method for image storage in hot vapors utilizing a $4f$ system and analyzes how diffusion affects image fidelity during storage.

Findings

High-fidelity image reconstruction is possible under certain conditions.

Diffusion of opposite-phase components interferes destructively, preserving image quality.

The approach leverages atomic Raman coherence for light storage.

Abstract

We theoretically investigate image propagation and storage in hot atomic vapor. A $4f$ system is adopted for imaging and an atomic vapor cell is placed over the transform plane. The Fraunhofer diffraction pattern of an object in the object plane can thus be transformed into atomic Raman coherence according to the idea of ``light storage''. We investigate how the stored diffraction pattern evolves under diffusion. Our result indicates, under appropriate conditions, that an image can be reconstructed with high fidelity. The main reason for this procedure to work is the fact that diffusion of opposite-phase components of the diffraction pattern interfere destructively.