Multimode electromagnetically-induced transparency on a single atomic line

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a multimode electromagnetically-induced transparency technique in rubidium vapor, significantly enhancing light storage capacity and enabling frequency conversion and routing by shaping the control field.

Contribution

It introduces a method to create multiple EIT windows on a single atomic line using complex control field shapes, improving delay-bandwidth and storage capabilities.

Findings

Enhanced delay-bandwidth product by a factor of 50

Achieved multimode light storage on a single atomic transition

Demonstrated adiabatic frequency conversion and optical routing

Abstract

We experimentally investigate electromagnetically-induced transparency (EIT) created on an inhomogeneously broadened 5S_1/2-5P_1/2 transition in rubidium vapor using a control field of a complex temporal shape. A comb-shaped transparency spectrum enhances the delay-bandwidth product and the light storage capacity for a matched probe pulse by a factor of about 50 compared to a single EIT line [D. D. Yavuz, Phys. Rev. A 75, 031801 (2007)]. If the temporal mode of the control field is slowly changed while the probe is propagating through the EIT medium, the probe will adiabatically follow, providing a means to perform frequency conversion and optical routing.