arXiv subjects

Guoxiang Huang

Publications and source records attributed to Guoxiang Huang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Optical nonlinearity in a strongly interacting Rydberg atom ensemble

Rydberg atoms, characterized by their giant polarizability and strong long-range interactions, provide an ideal platform for exploring optical nonlinearities. By coupling light to ensembles of Rydberg atoms, one can map the strong and nonlocal interactions between Rydberg atoms and light fields. A particularly important scheme for realizing such nonlinearity is electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). This article presents a review of the research progress in nonlinear optics based on Rydberg-EIT systems, particularly nonlinear light propagation in Rydberg atomic gases. We first introduce the fundamental properties of Rydberg atoms and the physical mechanism of EIT-enhanced nonlinearity, emphasizing how the Rydberg blockade effect endows the system with a giant nonlocal Kerr nonlinearity. Subsequently, we discuss some typical nonlinear optical phenomena in such a system with focusing and defocusing nonlocal nonlinearities. In the focusing regime, we discuss spatial solitons, vortex solitons, soliton cloning, soliton molecules, optical bullets, and self-induced transparency solitons. Other topics are also discussed. In the defocusing regime, we analyze pattern formation and shock wave dynamics. Finally, we provide an outlook on the future development of this field toward quantum control, hybrid-system integration, and novel functional devices.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2025

Modulation Instability-Induced Multimode Squeezing in Quadratic Frequency Combs

Lithium niobate (LN) microring resonators, characterized by an exceptionally high second-order nonlinear coefficient and superior electro-optic tunability, serve as an outstanding platform for the precise control of integrated quantum frequency combs (QFCs). In this study, we introduce a bipartite entanglement criterion to investigate the pairwise entanglement characteristics of QFCs generated via the spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) process in lithium niobate microring resonators operating below threshold. Furthermore, we propose a universal framework for analyzing multimode squeezing in quadratic frequency combs, enabling the realization of ultrabroadband and high-degree multimode squeezing. We further reveal the underlying physical mechanism: modulation instability (MI), regulated by temporal walk-off control, not only enables the formation of frequency combs but also induces multimode squeezing in the corresponding resonant modes. This study uncovers the previously unexplored role of on-chip multimode squeezing in quadratic frequency combs while facilitating collective noise suppression across multiple modes, thus holding substantial potential for advancing quantum precision measurement and quantum information processing.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Stable 3D vortex solitons of high topological charge in a Rydberg-dressed Bose-Einstein condensate with spin-orbit coupling

Stable vortex solitons (VSs) are objects of great interest for fundamental studies and various applications, including particle trapping, microscopy, data encoding, and matter-wave gyroscopes. However, three-dimensional (3D) VSs with high topological charges, supported by self-attractive nonlinearities, are unstable against fragmentation, which eventually leads to internal blowup (supercritical collapse) of the fragments. Here, we propose a scheme for realizing stable 3D VSs with topological charges up to $5$ and $6$ in the two components of a binary, Rydberg-dressed Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) with spin-orbit coupling (SOC). We show that, if the SOC strength exceeds a critical value, the rotational symmetry of the VSs in the transverse plane gets broken, resulting in separation of the two components. Nevertheless, the VSs with the broken symmetry remain stable. The VS stability domains are identified in the system's parameter space. Moreover, application of torque to the stable VSs sets them in the state of robust gyroscopic precession.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2024

Shock wave generation and propagation in dissipative and nonlocal nonlinear Rydberg media

We investigate the generation of optical shock waves in strongly interacting Rydberg atomic gases with a spatially homogeneous dissipative potential. The Rydberg atom interaction induces an optical nonlocal nonlinarity. We focus on local nonlinear ($R_b\ll R_0$) and nonlocal nonlinear ($R_b\sim R_0$) regimes, where $R_b$ and $R_0$ are the characteristic length of the Rydberg nonlinearity and beam width, respectively. In the local regime, we show spatial width and contrast of the shock wave change monotonically when increasing strength of the dissipative potential and optical intensity. In the nonlocal regime, the characteristic quantity of the shock wave depend on $R_b/R_0$ and dissipative potential nontrivially and on the intensity monotonically. We find that formation of shock waves dominantly takes place when $R_b$ is smaller than $R_0$, while the propagation dynamics is largely linear when $R_b$ is comparable to or larger than $R_0$. Our results reveal nontrivial roles played by dissipation and nonlocality in the generation of shock waves, and provide a route to manipulate their profiles and stability. Our study furthermore opens new avenues to explore non-Hermitian physics, and nonlinear wave generation and propagation by controlling dissipation and nonlocality in the Rydberg media.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2023

Simultaneous Quantum Squeezing of Light Polarizations and Atomic Spins in a Cold Atomic Gas

We present a scheme to realize simultaneous quantum squeezing of light polarizations and atomic spins via a perturbed double electromagnetically induced transparency (DEIT) in a cold four-level atomic ensemble coupled with a probe laser pulse of two polarization components. We derive two coupled quantum nonlinear Schrödinger equations from Maxwell-Heisenberg-Langevin equations describing the quantum dynamics of the atoms and the probe pulse, and develop a quantum theory of vector optical soliton (VOS), which have ultraslow propagation velocity and extremely low generation power. We solve the non-Hermitian eigenvalue problem describing the quantum fluctuations on the background of the VOS, and rigorously prove that all fluctuation eigenmodes (including continuous modes and four zero modes) obtained constitute a bi-orthonormal and complete set. We find that, due to the giant self- and cross-Kerr nonlinearities contributed by the perturbed DEIT, a large polarization squeezing of the probe pulse can be realized. We also find that, together with the polarization squeezing of the probe pulses, a significant squeezing of atomic spins also occurs simultaneously. The results of the simultaneous squeezing of light polarizations and atomic spins by using only a coherent probe pulse reported here opens a route for uncovering the unique property of the quantum interface between light and atomic ensembles, and also for applications in quantum information and precision measurement.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Facilitation Induced Transparency and Single Photon Switch with Dual-Channel Rydberg Interactions

We investigate facilitation induced transparency (FIT) enabled by strong and long-range Rydberg atom interactions between two spatially separated optical channels. In this setting, the resonant two-photon excitation of Rydberg states in a target channel is conditioned by a single Rydberg excitation in a control channel. Through the contactless coupling enabled by the Rydberg interaction, the optical transparency of the target channel can be actively manipulated by steering the optical detuning in the control channel. By adopting a dressed-state picture, we identify two different interference pathways, in which one corresponds to Rydberg blockade and an emergent one results from facilitation. We show that the FIT is originated from the Rydberg interaction and the quantum interference effect between the two pathways, which is different from conventional electromagnetically induced transparency realized by single-body laser-atom coupling. We find that the FIT in such a dual-channel setting is rather robust, insensitive to changes of systemic parameters, and can be generalized to multi-channel settings. Moreover, we demonstrate that such a FIT permits to realize controllable single-photon switches, which also paves a route to detect Rydberg facilitation by using optical absorption spectra. Our study contributes to current efforts in probing correlated many-body dynamics and developing single-photon quantum devices based on Rydberg atom ensembles.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Accessing and Manipulating Dispersive Shock Waves in a Nonlinear and Nonlocal Rydberg Medium

Dispersive shock waves (DSWs) are fascinating wave phenomena occurring in media when nonlinearity overwhelms dispersion (or diffraction). Creating DSWs with low generation power and realizing their active controls is desirable but remains a longstanding challenge. Here, we propose a scheme to generate weak-light DSWs and realize their manipulations in an atomic gas involving strongly interacting Rydberg states under the condition of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). We show that for a two-dimensional (2D) Rydberg gas a weak nonlocality of optical Kerr nonlinearity can significantly change the edge speed of DSWs and induces a singular behavior of the edge speed and hence an instability of the DSWs. However, by increasing the degree of the Kerr nonlocality, the singular behavior of the edge speed and the instability of the DSWs can be suppressed. We also show that in a 3D Rydberg gas, DSWs can be created and propagate stably when the system works in the intermediate nonlocality regime. Due to the EIT effect and the giant nonlocal Kerr nonlinearity contributed by the Rydberg-Rydberg interaction, DSWs found here have extremely low generation power. In addition, an active control of DSWs can be realized; in particular, they can be stored and retrieved with high efficiency and fidelity through switching off and on a control laser field. The results reported here are useful not only for unveiling intriguing physics of DSWs but also for finding promising applications of nonlinear and nonlocal Rydberg media.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2022

Quantum Multicritical Behavior for Coupled Optical Cavities with Driven Laser Fields

Quantum phase transitions with multicritical points are fascinating phenomena occurring in interacting quantum many-body systems. However, multicritical points predicted by theory have been rarely verified experimentally; finding multicritical points with specific behaviors and realizing their control remains a challenging topic. Here, we propose a system that a quantized light field interacts with a two-level atomic ensemble coupled by microwave fields in optical cavities, which is described by a generalized Dicke model. Multicritical points for the superradiant quantum phase transition are shown to occur. We determine the number and position of these critical points and demonstrate that they can be effectively manipulated through the tuning of system parameters. Particularly, we find that the quantum critical points can evolve into a Lifshitz point if the Rabi frequency of the light field is modulated periodically in time. Remarkably, the texture of atomic pseudo-spins can be used to characterize the quantum critical behaviors of the system. The magnetic orders of the three phases around the Lifshitz point, represented by the atomic pseudo-spins, are similar to those of an axial next-nearest-neighboring Ising model. The results reported here are beneficial for unveiling intriguing physics of quantum phase transitions and pave the way towards to find novel quantum multicritical phenomena based on the generalized Dicke model.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Quantum reflection of single photons in a cold Rydberg atomic gas

We propose and analyze a scheme for realizing the quantum reflection of single photons in a cold Rydberg atomic gas via electromagnetically induced transparency, by which a deep and tunable attractive potential well can be prepared by using stored gate photons. Such a scheme is promising for designing dispersion-type single-photon switches, and may be taken as a quantum device for observing the wave and particle natures of photons simultaneously.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Stable high-dimensional weak-light soliton molecules and their active control

Bound states of solitons, alias soliton molecules (SMs), are well known in one-dimensional (1D) systems, while making stable bound states of multidimensional solitons is a challenging problem because of the underlying instabilities. Here we propose a scheme for the creation of stable (2+1)D and (3+1)D optical SMs in a gas of cold Rydberg atoms, in which electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) is induced by a control laser field. We show that, through the interplay of the EIT and the strong long-range interaction between the Rydberg atoms, the system gives rise to giant nonlocal Kerr nonlinearity, which in turn supports stable (2+1)D spatial optical SMs, as well as ring-shaped soliton necklaces, including rotating ones. They feature a large size, low generation power, and can be efficiently manipulated by tuning the nonlocality degree of the Kerr nonlinearity. Stable (3+1)D spatiotemporal optical SMs, composed of fundamental or vortex solitons, with low power and ultraslow propagation velocity, can also be generated in the system. These SMs can be stored and retrieved through the switching off and on of the control laser field. The findings reported here suggest applications to data processing and transmission in optical systems.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2022

Quantum Squeezing of Slow-Light Solitons

We investigate the quantum squeezing of slow-light solitons generated in a $Λ$-shaped three-level atomic system working under condition of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). We show that due to the giant Kerr nonlinearity contributed from the EIT effect, significant quantum squeezing of the slow-light soliton can be realized within a short propagation distance. The results reported here are helpful for understanding the quantum property of slow-light solitons and for realizing light squeezing via EIT in cold atomic gases experimentally.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2022

Quantum Squeezing of Slow-Light Dark Solitons via Electromagnetically Induced Transparency

We consider the quantum effect of slow light dark soliton (SLDS) in a cold atomic gas with defocuing Kerr nonlinearity via electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). We calculate the quantum fluctuations of the SLDS by solving the relevant non-Hermitian eigenvalue problem describing the quantum fluctuations, and find that only one zero mode is allowed. This is different from the quantum fluctuations of bright solitons, where two independent zero modes occur. We rigorously prove that the eigenmodes, which consist of continuous modes and the zero mode, are bi-orthogonal and constitute a complete bi-orthonormalized basis, useful for the calculation on the quantum fluctuations of the SLDS. We demonstrate that, due to the large Kerr nonlinearity contributed from the EIT effect, a significant quantum squeezing of the SLDS can be realized; the squeezing efficiency can be manipulated by the Kerr nonlinearity and the soliton's amplitude, which can be much higher than that of bright solitons. Our work contributes to efforts for developing quantum nonlinear optics and non-Hermitian Physics, and for possible applications in quantum information processing and precision measurements.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Experimental Observation of Partial Parity-Time Symmetry and Its Phase Transition with a Laser-Driven Cesium Atomic Gas

Realization and manipulation of parity-time (PT) symmetry in multidimensional systems are highly desirable for exploring nontrivial physics and uncovering exotic phenomena in non-Hermitian systems. Here, we report the first experimental observation of partial PT (pPT) symmetry in a cesium atomic gas coupled with laser fields, where a two-dimensional pPT-symmetric optical potential for probe laser beam is created. A transition of the pPT symmetry from an unbroken phase to a broken one is observed through changing the beam-waist ratio of the control and probe laser beams, and the domains of unbroken, broken, and non-pPT phases are also discriminated unambiguously. Moreover, we develop a technique to precisely determine the location of the exceptional point of the pPT symmetry breaking by measuring the asymmetry degree of the probe-beam intensity distribution. The findings reported here pave the way for controlling multidimensional laser beams in non-Hermitian systems via laser-induced atomic coherence, and have potential applications for designing new types of light amplifiers and attenuators

physics.optics↗

arXiv2021

Selection and cloning of optical patterns with a cold Rydberg atomic gas

We show that optical patterns formed in a cold Rydberg atomic gas working at the condition of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) can be selected by using a weakly modulated control laser field. We also show that the (hexagonal, stripe, square, etc.) patterns prepared in one probe laser field can be cloned onto another one with a high fidelity via a double EIT.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2021

Self-organized structures of two-component laser fields and their active controls in a cold Rydberg atomic gas

We investigate the formation and control of stationary optical patterns in a cold Rydberg atomic gas via double electromagnetically induced transparency. We show that, through the modulational instability of plane-wave state of a laser field with two polarization components, the system undergoes a spontaneous symmetry breaking and hence the emergence of plentiful self-organized spatial optical structures, which can be manipulated by the ratio between the cross- and self-Kerr nonlinearities, the nonlocality degree of the Kerr nonlinearities, and the populations initially prepared in the two atomic ground states. Interestingly, a crossover from mixture to separation in space (optical phase separation) of the two polarization components occurs when the ratio between the cross- and self-Kerr nonlinearities exceeds a critical value. We also show that the system supports nonlocal two-component spatial optical solitons and vortices when the parameters of the system are selected suitably. The rich diversity and active controllability of the self-organized optical structures reported here provide a way for realizing novel optical patterns and solitons and their structural phase transitions based on Rydberg atomic gases.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2021

Giant Kerr nonlinearities and magneto-optical rotations in a Rydberg-atom gas via double electromagnetically induced transparency

We investigate the Kerr and magneto-optical effects for a probe laser field with two orthogonally polarized components, propagating in a cold Rydberg atomic gas with an inverted-Y-type level configuration via double electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). Through an approach beyond both mean-field and ground-state approximations, we make detailed calculations on third-order nonlinear optical susceptibilities and show that the system possesses giant nonlocal selfand cross-Kerr nonlinearities contributed by Rydberg-Rydberg interaction. The theoretical result of the cross-Kerr nonlinearity obtained for 85Rb atomic gas is very close to the experimental one reported recently. Moreover, we demonstrate that the probe laser field can acquire a very large magnetooptical rotation via the double EIT, which may be used to design atomic magnetometers with high precision. The results presented here are promising not only for the development of nonlocal nonlinear magneto-optics but also for applications in precision measurement and optical information processing and transmission based on Rydberg atomic gases.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2021

Observation of Blackbody Radiation Enhanced Superradiance in ultracold Rydberg Gases

An ensemble of excited atoms can synchronize emission of light collectively in a process known as superradiance when its characteristic size is smaller than the wavelength of emitted photons. The underlying superradiance depends strongly on electromagnetic (photon) fields surrounding the atomic ensemble. High mode densities of microwave photons from $300\,$K blackbody radiation (BBR) significantly enhance decay rates of Rydberg states to neighbouring states, enabling superradiance that is not possible with bare vacuum induced spontaneous decay. Here we report observations of the superradiance of ultracold Rydberg atoms embedded in a bath of room-temperature photons. The temporal evolution of the Rydberg $|nD\rangle$ to $|(n+1)P\rangle$ superradiant decay of Cs atoms ($n$ the principal quantum number) is measured directly in free space. Theoretical simulations confirm the BBR enhanced superradiance in large Rydberg ensembles. We demonstrate that the van der Waals interactions between Rydberg atoms change the superradiant dynamics and modify the scaling of the superradiance. In the presence of static electric fields, we find that the superradiance becomes slow, potentially due to many-body interaction induced dephasing. Our study provides insights into many-body dynamics of interacting atoms coupled to thermal BBR, and might open a route to the design of blackbody thermometry at microwave frequencies via collective, dissipative photon-atom interactions.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2021

Nonlinear Topological Edge States in a non-Hermitian Array of Optical Waveguides Embedded in an Atomic Gas

We propose a scheme comprising an array of anisotropic optical waveguides, embedded in a gas of cold atoms, which can be tuned from a Hermitian to an odd-PT -- symmetric configuration through the manipulation of control and assistant laser fields. We show that the system can be controlled by tuning intra -- and inter-cell coupling coefficients, enabling the creation of topologically distinct phases and linear topological edge states. The waveguide array, characterized by a quadrimer primitive cell, allows for implementing transitions between Hermitian and odd-PT -symmetric configurations, broken and unbroken PT -symmetric phases, topologically trivial and nontrivial phases, as well as transitions between linear and nonlinear regimes. The introduced scheme generalizes the Rice-Mele Hamiltonian for a nonlinear non-Hermitian quadrimer array featuring odd-PT symmetry and makes accessible unique phenomena and functionalities that emerge from the interplay of non-Hermiticity, topology, and nonlinearity. We also show that in the presence of nonlinearity the system sustains nonlinear topological edge states bifurcating from the linear topological edge states and the modes without linear limit. Each nonlinear mode represents a doublet of odd-PT -conjugate states. In the broken PT phase, the nonlinear edge states may be effectively stabilized when an additional absorption is introduced into the system.

quant-ph↗