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J. M. Hickmann

Publications and source records attributed to J. M. Hickmann.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2020

Probing the reciprocal lattice associated with a triangular slit to determine the orbital angular momentum for a photon

The orbital angular momentum conservation of light reveals different diffraction patterns univocally dependent on the topological charge of the incident light beam when passing through a triangular aperture. It is demonstrated that these patterns, which are accessed by observing the far field measurement of the diffracted light, can also be obtained using few photon sources. In order to explain the observed patterns, we introduce an analogy of this optical phenomenon with the study of diffraction for the characterization of the crystal structure of solids. We demonstrate that the finite pattern can be associated to the reciprocal lattice obtained from the direct lattice generated by the primitive vectors composing any two of the sides of the equilateral triangular slit responsible for the diffraction. Using the relation that exists between the direct and reciprocal lattices, we provide a conclusive explanation of why the diffraction pattern of the main maxima is finite. This can shed a new light on the investigation of crystallographic systems.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2006

Zener tunneling in two-dimensional photonic lattices

We discuss the interband light tunneling in a two-dimensional periodic photonic structure, as was studied recently in experiments for optically-induced photonic lattices [H. Trompeter et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. \textbf{96}, 053903 (2006)]. We identify the Zener tunneling regime at the crossing of two Bloch bands, which occurs in a generic case of the Bragg reflection when the Bloch index crosses the edge of the irreducible Brillouin zone. Similarly, the higher-order Zener tunneling involves four Bloch bands when the Bloch index passes through a high-symmetry point on the edge of the Brillouin zone. We derive simple analytical models that describe the tunneling effect, and calculate the corresponding tunneling probabilities.

cond-mat.other↗
arXiv2003

Fast light, slow light, and phase singularities: a connection to generalized weak values

We demonstrate that Aharonov-Albert-Vaidman (AAV) weak values have a direct relationship with the response function of a system, and have a much wider range of applicability in both the classical and quantum domains than previously thought. Using this idea, we have built an optical system, based on a birefringent photonic crystal, with an infinite number of weak values. In this system, the propagation speed of a polarized light pulse displays both superluminal and slow light behavior with a sharp transition between the two regimes. We show that this system's response possesses two-dimensional, vortex-antivortex phase singularities. Important consequences for optical signal processing are discussed.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2003

Weak-wave advancement in nearly collinear four-wave mixing

We identify a new four-wave mixing process in which two nearly collinear pump beams produce phase-dependent gain into a weak bisector signal beam in a self-defocusing Kerr medium. Phase matching is achieved by weak-wave advancement caused by cross-phase modulation between the pump and signal beams. We relate this process to the inverse of spatial modulational instability and suggest a time-domain analog.

nlin.PS↗
arXiv2003

Experimental demonstration of photonic crystal waveplates

We have constructed and experimentally tested a microwave half waveplate using the dispersive birefringent properties of a bulk two-dimensional photonic crystal away from its band gap. Our waveplate device exhibited a 200:1 polarization contrast, limited by our experimental resolution. We anticipate that photonic crystal waveplates will have important practical applications in several areas, including integrated photonic circuits.

cond-mat↗
arXiv2003

Photonic crystal polarizers and polarizing beam splitters

We have experimentally demonstrated polarizers and polarizing beam splitters based on microwave-scale two-dimensional photonic crystals. Using polarized microwaves within certain frequency bands, we have observed a squared-sinusoid (Malus) transmission law when using the photonic crystal as a polarizer. The photonic crystal also functions as a polarizing beamsplitter; in this configuration it can be engineered to split incident polarizations in either order, making it more versatile than conventional, Brewster-angle beamsplitters.

cond-mat↗
arXiv2003

Nonlinear absorption and refraction in near-detuned rubidium vapor

Using the z-scan technique, we have measured the self-induced absorptive and refractive nonlinear behavior of hot atomic rubidium vapor within the Doppler profile of the D2 line. We observe large nonlinear amplitude and phase effects with only tens of microwatts of incident power. Our results are in good agreement with numerical calculations based on an analytic model of a Doppler- broadened two-level system.

physics.atom-ph↗
arXiv2003

Demonstration of superluminal effects in an absorptionless, non-reflective system

We present an experimental and theoretical study of a simple, passive system consisting of a birefringent, two-dimensional photonic crystal and a polarizer in series, and show that superluminal dispersive effects can arise even though no incident radiation is absorbed or reflected. We demonstrate that a vector formulation of the Kramers-Kronig dispersion relations facilitates an understanding of these counter-intuitive effects.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2002

Microwave measurements of the photonic bandgap in a two-dimensional photonic crystal slab

We have measured the photonic bandgap in the transmission of microwaves through a two-dimensional photonic crystal slab. The structure was constructed by cementing acrylic rods in a hexagonal closed-packed array to form rectangular stacks. We find a bandgap centered at approximately 11 GHz, whose depth, width and center frequency vary with the number of layers in the slab, angle of incidence and microwave polarization.

physics.optics↗