We show that atomic spin motion can be controlled by circularly polarized light without light absorption in the strong pumping limit. In this limit, the pumping light, which drives the empty spin state, destroys the Zeeman coherence effectively and freezes the coherent transition via the quantum Zeno effect. It is verified experimentally that the amount of light absorption decreases asymptotically to zero as the incident light intensity is increased.
Inspired by a recent work [Reiter, Reeb, and Sørensen, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf117}, 040501 (2016)], we present a simplified proposal for dissipatively preparing a Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) state of three Rydberg atoms in a cavity. The $Z$ pumping is implemented under the action of the spontaneous emission of $Λ$-type atoms and the quantum Zeno dynamics induced by strong continuous coupling. In the meantime, a dissipative Rydberg pumping breaks up the stability of the state $|{\rm GHZ}_+\rangle$ in the process of $Z$ pumping, making $|{\rm GHZ}_-\rangle$ be the unique steady state of syst…
We have previously shown that the quantum Zeno effect can be used to implement quantum logic gates for quantum computing applications, where the Zeno effect was produced using a strong two-photon absorbing medium. Here we show that the Zeno effect can also be used to implement classical logic gates whose inputs and outputs are high-intensity fields (coherent states). The operation of the devices can be understood using a quasi-static analysis, and their switching times are calculated using a dynamic approach. The two-photon absorption coefficient of rubidium vapor is shown to allow operation o…
Quantum logic gates for photonic qubits can be implemented using the quantum Zeno effect based on strong two-photon absorption. The fidelity of quantum Zeno gates of this kind may be substantially reduced by photon loss. Heralding on those outcomes in which both of the logical qubits emerge from the Zeno gate can increase the fidelity at the expense of a limited success rate (P.M. Leung et al., Phys. Rev. A 74, 062325 (2006)). We analyze the performance of heralded quantum Zeno gates by solving Schrodinger's equation for a system of photons coupled to three-level atoms. This approach identifie…
We devise a new technique to enhance transmission of quantum information through linear optical quantum information processors. The idea is based on applying the Quantum Zeno effect to the process of photon absorption. By frequently monitoring the presence of the photon through a QND (quantum non-demolition) measurement the absorption is suppressed. Quantum information is encoded in the polarization degrees of freedom and is therefore not affected by the measurement. Some implementations of the QND measurement are proposed.
In the framework of Heisenberg-Langevin theory the dynamical and statistical effects arising from the linear interaction of two nondegenerate down-conversion processes are investigated. Using the strong-pumping approximation the analytical solution of equations of motion is calculated. The phenomena reminiscent of Zeno and anti-Zeno effects are examined. The possibility of phase-controlled and mismatch-controlled switching is illustrated.
Low-contrast all-optical Zeno switching has been demonstrated in a silicon nitride microdisk resonator coupled to a hot atomic vapor. The device is based on the suppression of the field build-up within a microcavity due to non-degenerate two-photon absorption. This experiment used one beam in a resonator and one in free-space due to limitations related to device physics. These results suggest that a similar scheme with both beams resonant in the cavity would correspond to input power levels near 20 nW.
We have previously shown that two-photon absorption (TPA) and the quantum Zeno effect can be used to make deterministic quantum logic devices from an otherwise linear optical system. Here we show that this type of quantum Zeno gate can be used with additional two-photon absorbing media and weak laser pulses to make a heralded single photon source. A source of this kind is expected to have a number of practical advantages that make it well suited for large scale quantum information processing applications.
We show that the resolution "per absorbed particle" of standard absorption tomography can be outperformed by a simple interferometric setup, provided that the different levels of "gray" in the sample are not uniformly distributed. The technique hinges upon the quantum Zeno effect and has been tested in numerical simulations. The scheme we propose could be implemented in experiments with UV-light, neutrons or X-rays.
Quantum logic operations can be implemented using nonlinear phase shifts (the Kerr effect) or the quantum Zeno effect based on strong two-photon absorption. Both approaches utilize three-level atoms, where the upper level is tuned on resonance for the Zeno gates and off-resonance for the nonlinear phase gates. The performance of nonlinear phase gates and Zeno gates are compared under conditions where the parameters of the resonant cavities and three-level atoms are the same in both cases. It is found that the expected performance is comparable for the two approaches, despite the apparent diffe…
Effects of non-ideal optical components in realizing quantum Zeno effect in an all-optical setup are analyzed. Beam splitters are the important components in this experimental configuration. Nonuniform transmission coefficient, photon absorption and thermal noise are considered. Numerical simulation of the experiment is performed using the Monte Carlo wavefunction method. It is argued that there is an optimal number of beam splitters to be used for maximizing the expected output in the experiment.
We have modelled the Zeno effect Control-Sign gate of Franson et al (PRA 70, 062302, 2004) and shown that high two-photon to one-photon absorption ratios, $κ$, are needed for high fidelity free standing operation. Hence we instead employ this gate for cluster state fusion, where the requirement for $κ$ is less restrictive. With the help of partially offline one-photon and two-photon distillations, we can achieve a fusion gate with unity fidelity but non-unit probability of success. We conclude that for $κ> 2200$, the Zeno fusion gate will out perform the equivalent linear optics gate.
We propose a scheme for entangling two photons via the quantum Zeno effect, which describes the inhibition of quantum evolution by frequent measurements and is based on the difference between summing amplitudes and probabilities. For a given error probability $P_{\rm error}$, our scheme requires that the one-photon loss rate $ξ_{1γ}$ and the two-photon absorption rate $ξ_{2γ}$ in some medium satisfy $ξ_{1γ}/ξ_{2γ}=2P_{\rm error}^2/π^2$, which is significantly improved in comparison to previous approaches. Again based on the quantum Zeno effect, as well as coherent excitations, we present a pos…
We have frozen the coherent evolution of a field in a cavity by repeated measurements of its photon number. We use circular Rydberg atoms dispersively coupled to the cavity mode for an absorption-free photon counting. These measurements inhibit the growth of a Field injected in the cavity by a classical source. This manifestation of the Quantum Zeno effect illustrates the back action of the photon number determination onto the Field phase. The residual growth of the Field can be seen as a random walk of its amplitude in the two-dimensional phase space. This experiment sheds light onto the meas…
The quantum Zeno effect describes the inhibition of quantum evolution by frequent measurements. Here, we propose a scheme for entangling two given photons based on this effect. We consider a linear-optics set-up with an absorber medium whose two-photon absorption rate $ξ_{2γ}$ exceeds the one-photon loss rate $ξ_{1γ}$. In order to reach an error probability $P_{\rm error}$, we need $ξ_{1γ}/ξ_{2γ}<2P_{\rm error}^2/π^2$, which is a factor of 64 better than previous approaches (e.g., by Franson et al). Since typical media have $ξ_{2γ}<ξ_{1γ}$, we discuss three mechanisms for enhancing two-photon …
Left-handedness with three zero-absorption windows tuned by the incoherent pumping field and inter-dot tunnelings in a GaAs/AlGaAs triple quantum dots system
Resonant optical pumping in dense atomic media is discussed, where the absorption length is less than the smallest characteristic dimension of the sample. It is shown that reabsorption and multiple scattering of spontaneous photons (radiation trapping) can substantially slow down the rate of optical pumping. A very slow relaxation out of the target state of the pump process is then sufficient to make optical pumping impossible. As model systems an inhomogeneously and a radiatively broadened 3-level system resonantly driven with a strong broad-band pump field are considered.
We demonstrate a tunable, narrow-band filter based on optical-pumping-induced circular dichroism in rubidium vapor. The filter achieves a peak transmission of 14.6%, a linewidth of 80 MHz, and an out-of-band extinction >35 dB. The transmission peak can be tuned within the range of the Doppler linewidth of the D1 line of atomic rubidium at 795 nm. While other atomic filters work at frequencies far from absorption, the presented technique provides light resonant with atomic media, useful for atom-photon interaction experiments. The technique could readily be extended to other alkali atoms.
We investigate the dispersion and the absorption properties of a weak probe field in a three-level pump-probe atomic system. It is shown that the slope of dispersion changes from positive to negative just with the intensity of the coherent or indirect incoherent pumping fields. It is demonstrated that the absorption free superluminal light propagation is appeared in this system.
We present theoretical results of a low-loss all-optical switch based on electromagnetically induced transparency and the classical Zeno effect in a microdisk resonator. We show that a control beam can modify the atomic absorption of the evanescent field which suppresses the cavity field buildup and alters the path of a weak signal beam. We predict more than 35 dB of switching contrast with less than 0.1 dB loss using just 2 micro-Watts of control-beam power for signal beams with less than single photon intensities inside the cavity.
Erbium doped solids are potential candidates for the realization of a quantum memory for photons at telecommunication wavelengths. The implementation of quantum memory proposals in rare earth ion doped solids require spectral tailoring of the inhomogeneous absorption profile by efficient population transfer between ground state levels (spin polarization) using optical pumping. In this article we investigate the limiting factors of efficient optical pumping between ground state Zeeman levels in an erbium doped Y2SiO5 crystal. We introduce two methods to overcome these limiting factors: stimulat…
We investigate in depth the relation between the first detection time of an isolated quantum system that is repeatedly perturbed by strong local measurements with a large fixed frequency $1/τ$, determining whether it is in some given state $| ψ_\text{d} \rangle$, and the time of absorption to the same state of the same system with the added imaginary potential $2i\hbar | ψ_\text{d} \rangle \langle ψ_\text{d} | / τ$. As opposed to previous works, we compare directly the solutions of both problems in the small $τ$, i.e., Zeno, limit. We find a scaling collapse in $F(t)$ with respect to $τ$ and c…
We investigate the dispersion and the absorption properties of a weak probe field in a three-level Lambda-type atomic system. We use just an incoherent field for controlling the group velocity of light. It is shown that the slope of dispersion changes from positive to negative just with changing the intensity of the indirect incoherent pumping field. Gain-assisted superluminal light propagation appears in this system. No laser field is used in the pumping processes.
We investigate dispersion and absorption properties of a weak probe field in a four level atomic system through interacting dark resonances. We show that two narrow peaks appears in the optical spectra due to the presence of interacting dark resonances. This two narrow peaks leads to the superluminal light propagation with strong absorption. However, if a weak incoherent pump field is exerted to the probe transition, then the peaks structures can be changed such that two absorption peaks transformed to two gain deeps. We Show that both subluminal and superluminal light propagation occur in thi…
We demonstrate rotational and vibrational cooling of cesium dimers by optical pumping techniques. We use two laser sources exciting all the populated rovibrational states, except a target state that thus behaves like a dark state where molecules pile up thanks to absorption-spontaneous emission cycles. We are able to accumulate photoassociated cold Cs2 molecules in their absolute ground state (v = 0, J = 0) with up to 40% efficiency. Given its simplicity, the method could be extended to other molecules and molecular beams. It also opens up general perspectives in laser cooling the external deg…
We demonstrate that Zeeman ground-state spin levels in Nd3+:YVO4 provides the possibility to create an efficient lambda-system for optical pumping experiments. The branching ratio R in the lambda-system is measured experimentally via absorption spectroscopy and is compared to a theoretical model. We show that R can be tuned by changing the orientation of the magnetic field. These results are applied to optical pumping experiments, where significant improvement is obtained compared to previous experiments in this system. The tunability of the branching ratio in combination with its good coheren…
We experimentally demonstrate hyperfine optical pumping of rubidium atoms probed by an evanescent electromagnetic field at a dielectric-vapor interface. This light-atom interaction at the nanoscale is investigated using a right angle prism integrated with a vapor cell and excited by evanescent wave under total internal reflection. An efficient hyperfine optical pumping, leading to a complete suppression of absorption on the probed evanescent signal, is observed when a pump laser beam is sent at normal incidence to the interface. In contrast, when the pump and probe beams are co-propagating in …
Cycling processes are important in many areas of physics ranging from lasers to topological insulators, often offering surprising insights into dynamical and structural aspects of the respective system. Here we report on a quantum-nonlinear wave-mixing experiment where resonant lasers and an optical cavity define a closed cycle between several ground and excited states of a single atom. We show that, for strong atom-cavity coupling and steady-state driving, the entanglement between the atomic states and intracavity photon number suppresses the excited-state population via quantum interference,…
Interlaced Spin Grating is a scheme for the preparation of spectro-spatial periodic absorption gratings in a inhomogeneously broadened absorption profile. It relies on the optical pumping of atoms in a nearby long-lived ground state sublevel. The scheme takes advantage of the sublevel proximity to build large contrast gratings with unlimited bandwidth and preserved average optical depth. It is particularly suited to Tm-doped crystals in the context of classical and quantum signal processing. In this paper, we study the optical pumping dynamics at play in an Interlaced Spin Grating and describe…
Current can be pumped through a closed system by changing parameters (or fields) in time. The Kubo formula allows to distinguish between dissipative and non-dissipative contributions to the current. We obtain a Green function expression and an $S$ matrix formula for the associated terms in the generalized conductance matrix: the "geometric magnetism" term that corresponds to adiabatic transport; and the "Fermi golden rule" term which is responsible to the irreversible absorption of energy. We explain the subtle limit of an infinite system, and demonstrate the consistency with the formulas by L…
The response of a SERF atomic magnetometer to a repetitive short-pulsed pump was investigated. Quantum sub-resonances at a repetition rate of $1/n$ of the Larmor frequency of the magnetic field inside the shield are experimentally observed and theoretically explained. This is a type of synchronization phenomenon. Investigations in single alkali atoms cells as well as mixed alkali atoms of K and Rb are presented. In the later, one species is pumped while the probe is on the other specie polarized by spin exchange. The effect of spin destruction, spin exchange and collisions are studied in order…
The propagation of a weak probe field in a laser-driven four-level atomic system is investigated. We choose mercury as our model system, where the probe transition is in the ultraviolet region. A high-resolution peak appears in the optical spectra due to the presence of interacting dark resonances. We show that this narrow peak leads to superluminal light propagation with strong absorption, and thus by itself is only of limited interest. But if in addition a weak incoherent pump field is applied to the probe transition, then the peak structure can be changed such that both sub- and superlumina…
Efficient optical pumping is an important tool for state initialization in quantum technologies, such as optical quantum memories. In crystals doped with Kramers rare-earth ions, such as erbium and neodymium, efficient optical pumping is challenging due to the relatively short population lifetimes of the electronic Zeeman levels, of the order of 100 ms at around 4 K. In this article we show that optical pumping of the hyperfine levels in isotopically enriched $^{145}$Nd$^{3+}$:Y$_2$SiO$_5$ crystals is more efficient, owing to the longer population relaxation times of hyperfine levels. By optic…
The absorption of bulk acoustic phonons in a two-dimensional (2D) GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructure is studied (in the clean limit) where the 2D electron-gas (2DEG), being in an odd-integer quantum-Hall state, is in fact a spin dielectric. Of the two channels of phonon absorption associated with excitation of spin waves, one, which is due to the spin-orbit (SO) coupling of electrons, involves a change of the spin state of the system and the other does not. We show that the phonon-absorption rate corresponding to the former channel (in the paper designated as the second absorption channel) is finite …
Generation of pure spin currents via nonadiabatic quantum pumping in an antiferromagnetic chain
Islamic Azad University（伊斯兰阿扎德大学）；Farhangian University（法尔坎吉安大学）；Imam Khomeini International University（伊玛目霍梅尼国际大学）；Indian Statistical Institute（印度统计研究所）
We explore a counterfactual protocol for energy transfer. A modified version of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer dissociates a photon's position and energy into separate channels, resulting in a photoelectric effect in one channel without the absorption of a photon. We use the quantum Zeno effect to extend our results by recycling the same photon through the system and obtain a stream of photoelectrons. If dissociation of properties such as energy can be demonstrated experimentally, there may be a variety of novel energy-related applications that may arise from the capacity to do non-local work. …
We experimentally investigate ultralow-power saturation of the rubidium D2 transitions using a tapered optical fiber (TOF) suspended in a warm Rb vapor. A direct comparison of power-dependent absorption measurements for the TOF system with those obtained in a standard free-space vapor cell system highlights the differences in saturation behavior for the two systems. The effects of hyperfine pumping in the TOF system are found to be minimized due to the short atomic transit times through the highly confined evanescent optical mode guided by the TOF. The TOF system data is well-fit by a relative…
Shift current---a photocurrent induced by light irradiating noncentrosymmetric materials in the absence of any bias voltage or built-in electric field---is one of the mechanisms of the so-called bulk photovoltaic effect. It has been traditionally described as a nonlinear optical response of periodic solids to continuous wave light using a perturbative formula, which is linear in the intensity of light and which involves Berry connection describing the shift in the center of mass position of the Wannier wave function associated with the transition between the valence and conduction bands. We an…
The two-photon transition $5S-5P-5D$ in rubidium vapor is investigated by detecting the fluorescence from the $6P_{3/2}$ state when the atomic system is excited by the combined action of a cw diode laser and a train of ultrashort pulses. The cw-laser plays a role as a velocity-selective filter and allows for a spectroscopy over a large spectral range including the $5D_{3/2}$ and $5D_{5/2}$ states. For a counterpropagating beam configuration, the response of each atomic velocity group is well characterized within the Doppler profile, and the excited hyperfine levels are clearly resolved. The co…
Photon absorption in a semiconductor produces bright excitons that recombine very fast into photons. We here show that in a quantum dot set close to a p-doped reservoir, this absorption can produce a dark duo, i.e., an electron-hole pair that does not emit light. This unexpected effect relies on the fact that the wave function for a hole leaks out of a finite-barrier dot less than for electron. This difference can render the positively charged trio unstable in the dot by tuning the applied bias voltage in a field-effect device. The unstable trio that would result from photon absorption in a po…
