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Controlling photons using electromagnetically induced transparency

Nature volume 413, pages 273–276 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

It is well known that a dielectric medium can be used to manipulate properties of light pulses. However, optical absorption limits the extent of possible control: this is especially important for weak light pulses. Absorption in an opaque medium can be eliminated via quantum mechanical interference, an effect known as electromagnetically induced transparency. Theoretical and experimental work has demonstrated that this phenomenon can be used to slow down light pulses dramatically, or even bring them to a complete halt. Interactions between photons in such an atomic medium can be many orders of magnitude stronger than in conventional optical materials.

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Figure 1: Electromagnetically induced transparency.
Figure 2: Schematic of spatial compression exhibited when a light pulse (red curve) enters the slow medium (blue).
Figure 3: Dark-state polaritons.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank S. Harris and M. Scully for many discussions. We also thank J. I. Cirac, L.-M. Duan, M. Fleischauer, D. Phillips, H. Schmidt, R. Walsworth, S. Yelin and P. Zoller. This work was supported by the NSF via a grant to ITAMP and through an ITR program (M.L.) and by a David and Lucile Packard Fellowship (A.I.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physics Department and ITAMP, Harvard University, Cambridge, 02138, Massachusetts, USA

    M. D. Lukin

  2. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, 93106, California, USA

    A. Imamoğlu

  3. Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Orhanli, Istanbul, 81474, Tuzla, Turkey

    A. Imamoğlu

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  2. A. Imamoğlu
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Correspondence to A. Imamoğlu.

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Lukin, M., Imamoğlu, A. Controlling photons using electromagnetically induced transparency. Nature 413, 273–276 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35095000

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