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Observation of Acoustically Induced Transparency for γ-Ray Photons.
Y V Radeonychev1,2,3, I R Khairulin1,3, F G Vagizov2,4,5
1Institute of Applied Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 46 Ulyanov Street, Nizhny Novgorod 603950, Russia.
Physical Review Letters
|May 9, 2020
Summary
Researchers achieved a 148-fold reduction in resonant absorption of X-ray photons using collective acoustic oscillations in iron-57 nuclei. This breakthrough enables new possibilities for controlling X-ray and gamma-ray interactions with matter.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Physics
- Quantum Optics
- Condensed Matter Physics
Background:
- Induced transparency is a quantum interference effect that allows light to pass through an otherwise opaque medium.
- Extending induced transparency to higher energy photons like X-rays and gamma-rays presents significant technological challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate induced transparency for 14.4 keV photons using nuclear resonant absorption.
- To investigate the use of collective acoustic oscillations for inducing transparency in nuclear ensembles.
- To explore the potential for acoustically controlled X-ray and gamma-ray quantum optics.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing an ensemble of resonant two-level iron-57 nuclei.
- Inducing collective acoustic oscillations within the nuclear ensemble.
- Measuring the absorption of 14.4 keV photons before and after acoustic excitation.
Main Results:
- Achieved a 148-fold suppression of resonant absorption (from exp(-5.2) to exp(-0.2)).
- Preserved spectral and temporal characteristics of the transmitted photons.
- Demonstrated transparency at room temperature.
Conclusions:
- The proposed technique successfully extends induced transparency to the hard X-ray/gamma-ray range.
- Acoustically controllable interfaces between photons and nuclear ensembles are feasible.
- This work advances the field of X-ray and gamma-ray quantum optics.
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