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Topological stability of stored optical vortices
R Pugatch1, M Shuker, O Firstenberg
1Department of Physics of Complex Systems, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
Physical Review Letters
|August 7, 2007
Summary
Optical vortices, or Laguerre-Gauss modes, demonstrate remarkable stability in Rb atom vapors, unlike Gaussian beams. This topological stability suggests potential for robust classical and quantum information storage.
Area of Science:
- Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
- Quantum Information Science
Background:
- Optical vortices possess unique topological properties, such as a 2π phase twist, making them inherently stable.
- Atomic vapors can store and retrieve optical information, but stability against decoherence is a key challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the storage stability of optical vortices (Laguerre-Gauss modes) in Rubidium (Rb) atomic vapors.
- To compare the decoherence resistance of optical vortices with Gaussian beams in atomic storage.
Main Methods:
- Storing an optical vortex and a Gaussian beam in a Rb atomic vapor.
- Comparing the retrieved beam profiles and phase stability over time.
- Analyzing the effects of diffusion on stored optical modes.
Main Results:
- Optical vortices remained stable for over 100 microseconds.
- Gaussian beams with dark centers showed rapid filling of light within 10 microseconds due to diffusion.
- Demonstrated conversion of electromagnetic modes into atomic coherences.
Conclusions:
- Topologically stable optical modes (vortices) are robust against decoherence effects like diffusion in atomic vapors.
- This robustness opens new avenues for advanced classical and quantum information storage schemes in atomic systems.
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