Hot atomic vapors for nonlinear and quantum optics

TL;DR

This paper reviews the use of hot atomic vapors in nonlinear and quantum optics, highlighting phenomena like four-wave mixing, nonclassical light generation, and applications in quantum memories and quantum fluids of light.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments in nonlinear and quantum optical effects in hot atomic vapors, including new applications and experimental results.

Findings

Demonstrated four-wave mixing and nonclassical light generation in atomic vapors

Discussed applications in optical and quantum memories

Presented recent advances in quantum fluids of light

Abstract

Nonlinear optics has been a very dynamic field of research with spectacular phenomena discovered mainly after the invention of lasers. The combination of high intensity fields with resonant systems has further enhanced the nonlinearity with specific additional effects related to the resonances. In this paper we review a limited range of these effects which has been studied in the past decades using close-to-room-temperature atomic vapors as the nonlinear resonant medium. In particular we describe four-wave mixing (4WM) and generation of nonclassical light in atomic vapors. One-and two-mode squeezing as well as photon correlations are discussed. Furthermore, we present some applications for optical and quantum memories based on hot atomic vapors. Finally, we present results on the recently developed field of quantum fluids of light using hot atomic vapors.