Southwest Quantum Information and Technology

Topological stability of stored Bessel beams in rubidium vapor via electromagnetically induced transparency

Presenting Author: Scott Wenner, Miami University
Contributing Author(s): Jianqiao Li, Kefeng Jiang, Reese Tyra, Samir Bali

We report on the robustness of different transverse electric-field profiles of light stored in warm dilute alkali vapor via electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). First, we store Gaussian and Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) modes of light and measure the evolution of the intensity profile. We find that though the LG beam’s topological feature stays intact, the intensity profiles for both modes enlarge owing to degrading effects from diffusion as the beams propagate through the medium. Next, we compare the robustness of these beam-profiles to that of a Bessel beam generated with an axicon, and demonstrate the Bessel profile to be resistant to degradation from diffusion. Finally, we generated an “imposter Bessel” profile by passing a Gaussian beam through a two-ring mask, causing the intensity profile to resemble that of a Bessel beam. We find that this imposter quickly diffuses into a Gaussian profile as the beam starts to propagate through the EIT medium. This work demonstrates a pathway to enhancing atom-based information storage by controlling the electric field profile of the beam. We gratefully acknowledge funding by the Army Research Office.

(Session 5 : Thursday from 12:00pm-2:00 pm)