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Using electric fields for pulse compression and group-velocity control

Qian Li, Adam Kinos, Axel Thuresson, Lars Rippe, and Stefan Kröll
Phys. Rev. A 95, 032104 – Published 7 March 2017
Physics logo See Synopsis: A Neat Way to Slow Down Light

Abstract

In this article, we experimentally demonstrate a way of controlling the group velocity of an optical pulse by using a combination of spectral hole burning, the slow-light effect, and the linear Stark effect in a rare-earth-ion–doped crystal. The group velocity can be changed continuously by a factor of 20 without significant pulse distortion or absorption of the pulse energy. With a similar technique, an optical pulse can also be compressed in time. Theoretical simulations were developed to simulate the group-velocity control and the pulse compression processes. The group velocity as well as the pulse reshaping are solely controlled by external voltages which makes it promising in quantum information and quantum communication processes. It is also proposed that the group velocity can be changed even more in an Er-doped crystal while at the same time having a transmission band matching the telecommunication wavelength.

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  • Received 21 October 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.95.032104

©2017 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Atomic, Molecular & OpticalGeneral Physics

Synopsis

Key Image

A Neat Way to Slow Down Light

Published 7 March 2017

A new technique slows down light in a crystal by simply shining a laser on it and varying an applied voltage.

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Authors & Affiliations

Qian Li1,*, Adam Kinos1, Axel Thuresson2, Lars Rippe1, and Stefan Kröll1

  • 1Department of Physics, Lund University, P.O. Box 118, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden
  • 2Theoretical Chemistry, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden

  • *qian.li@fysik.lth.se

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Issue

Vol. 95, Iss. 3 — March 2017

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