Optically controllable photonic structures with zero absorption

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a method to create dynamically controllable photonic structures by periodically modulating the refractive index in atomic media without absorption, enabling new optical device functionalities.

Contribution

It introduces a novel scheme for optically controlling photonic structures with zero absorption using resonant enhancement in atomic media, specifically in rare-earth doped crystals.

Findings

Refractive index can be periodically modulated without absorption.

External optical fields enable coherent control of photonic structures.

Potential implementation in rare-earth doped crystals is feasible.

Abstract

We show the possibility to periodically modulate refractive index in atomic medium in space or/and time while simultaneously keeping vanishing absorption/gain. Such modulation is based on periodic resonant enhancement of refractive index, controlled by an external optical field, and opens a way to produce coherently controllable photonic structures. We suggest possible implementation of the proposed scheme in rare-earth doped crystals with excited state absorption.