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Observation of absorptive photon switching by quantum interference

Min Yan·Edward G. Rickey·Yifu Zhu
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Abstract

We report an experimental demonstration of photon switching by quantum interference in a four-level atomic system proposed by Harris and Yamamoto (Phys. Rev. Lett. 81, 3611 (1998)). Quantum interference inhibits single-photon absorption but enhances third-order, two-photon type absorption in the four-level system. We have observed greatly enhanced nonlinear absorption in the four-level system realized with cold 87Rb atoms and demonstrated fast switching of the nonlinear absorption with a pulsed pump laser.

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Min Yan, Edward G. Rickey, Yifu Zhu. 2001-05-21. Observation of absorptive photon switching by quantum interference. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.64.041801

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