Optically Unstable Phase from Ion-Ion Interactions in an Erbium-Doped Crystal

Area of Science:

• Optics
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Quantum Optics

Background:

• Optical many-body systems exhibit strong light-matter interactions, crucial for photonic technologies.
• Current photonic applications are confined to dynamically stable phases, leaving unstable phases unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally identify and characterize new dynamical phases in optical many-body systems.
• To investigate the possibility of intrinsic optical instability beyond dynamically stable regimes.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a continuous-wave laser to drive an erbium-doped crystal.
• Analyzing the optical transmission through the sample under intense laser input.
• Observing transient net gain with double-pass transmission.

Main Results:

• A novel dynamical phase of intrinsic optical instability was experimentally revealed.
• Optical transmission became unstable at high laser intensities.
• Transient net gain was observed under specific experimental conditions.

Conclusions:

• The study identified a new dynamical phase transition induced by dipole-dipole interactions between erbium ions.
• This discovery expands the understanding of optical many-body systems beyond stable phases.
• The findings suggest potential new pathways for photonic applications leveraging unstable optical dynamics.