Rapidly reconfigurable optically induced photonic crystals in hot rubidium vapor

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the creation of reconfigurable photonic crystals in hot rubidium vapor using optical fields, enabling controlled light manipulation through AC Stark effect-induced index modulation.

Contribution

It introduces a method to rapidly reconfigure photonic structures in vapor using optical control, expanding possibilities for dynamic photonic devices.

Findings

Successful creation of photonic structures in rubidium vapor

Controlled reflection, transmission, and diffraction of light

Experimental results align with theoretical models

Abstract

Through periodic index modulation, we create two different types of photonic structures in a heated rubidium vapor for controlled reflection, transmission and diffraction of light. The modulation is achieved through the use of the AC Stark effect resulting from a standing-wave control field. The periodic intensity structures create translationally invariant index profiles analogous to photonic crystals in spectral regions of steep dispersion. Experimental results are consistent with modeling.