Optical vortices induced in nonlinear multilevel atomic vapors.

Area of Science:

• Nonlinear Optics
• Atomic Physics
• Quantum Optics

Background:

• Vortices in nonlinear media are crucial for understanding light-matter interactions.
• Atomic vapors exhibit complex nonlinear optical phenomena.
• Simultaneous consideration of multiple susceptibilities and dressing effects is essential for accurate modeling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the existence and analyze the evolution of vortices in a specific nonlinear atomic system.
• To investigate the impact of incident beam characteristics on vortex dynamics.
• To establish rules for predicting vortex formation and rotation.

Main Methods:

• Numerical investigation of a ladder-type three-level nonlinear atomic vapor.
• Inclusion of linear, cubic, and quintic susceptibilities.
• Modeling the dressing effect.
• Analysis of various incident beam properties (number of beads, topological charge, size).

Main Results:

• Confirmed the existence and observed the evolution of vortices.
• Demonstrated that incident beam parameters (beads, topological charge, size) significantly affect vortex formation and evolution.
• Identified rules correlating initial beam conditions with induced vortex number and rotation direction.

Conclusions:

• Vortex dynamics in this nonlinear atomic system are controllable via incident beam parameters.
• The established rules provide a predictive framework for vortex generation.
• This research contributes to the understanding of nonlinear light propagation in atomic media.