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.
- Received 21 October 2016
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.95.032104
©2017 American Physical Society
Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)
Synopsis
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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