Transition between different coherent light-matter interaction regimes analyzed by phase-resolved pulse propagation
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Quantum State Engineering of Light with Continuous-wave Optical Parametric Oscillators
Published on: May 30, 2014
Tilman Höner zu Siederdissen1, Nils C Nielsen, Jürgen Kuhl
1Max-Planck-Institut für Festkorperforschung, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany. t.hoener@fkf.mpg.de
Abstract:
We present phase-resolved pulse propagation measurements that allow us to fully describe the transition between several light-matter interaction regimes. The complete range from linear excitation to the breakdown of the photonic bandgap on to self-induced transmission and self-phase modulation is studied on a high-quality multiple-quantum-well Bragg structure. An improved fast-scanning cross-correlation frequency-resolved optical gating setup is applied to retrieve the pulse phase with an excellent signal-to-noise ratio. Calculations using the semiconductor Maxwell-Bloch equations show qualitative agreement with the experimental findings.
Related Concept Videos
Propagation of Waves
Consider a scenario where a wave propagates from a string of low linear mass density to a string of high linear mass density. In such a case, the reflected wave is out of phase with respect to the incident wave, however the...
Phase Transitions
Phase Transitions
Propagation Speed of Electromagnetic Waves
Interference and Diffraction
Electromagnetic Waves in Matter
Consider the electromagnetic wave passing through a dielectric medium. In such a case, Maxwell's equations get modified. In Ampere's law, ε0 , the dielectric permittivity of free space is replaced with ε, the permittivity of dielectric. Also, the vacuum permeability μ0 is replaced by the permeability of the medium, μ.
Furthermore, the...

