arXiv subjects

P. Maddaloni

Publications and source records attributed to P. Maddaloni.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2020

Optical frequency combs in quadratically nonlinear resonators

Optical frequency combs are one of the most remarkable inventions of the last decades. Originally conceived as the spectral counterpart of the train of short pulses emitted by mode-locked lasers, frequency combs have also been subsequently generated in continuously pumped microresonators, through third-order parametric processes. Quite recently, direct generation of optical frequency combs has been demonstrated in continuous-wave laser-pumped optical resonators with a second-order nonlinear medium inside. Here, we presents a concise introduction to such quadratic combs and the physical mechanism that underlies their formation. We mainly review our recent experimental and theoretical work on formation and dynamics of such quadratic frequency combs. We experimentally demonstrated comb generation in two configurations: a cavity for second harmonic generation, where combs are generated both around the pump frequency and its second harmonic, and a degenerate optical parametric oscillator, where combs are generated around the pump frequency and its sub-harmonic. The experiments have been supported by a thorough theoretical analysis, aimed at modelling the dynamics of quadratic combs, both in frequency and time domains, providing useful insights into the physics of this new class of optical frequency comb synthesizers. Quadratic combs establish a new class of efficient frequency comb synthesizers, with unique features, which could enable straightforward access to new spectral regions and stimulate novel applications.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2018

Modulation Instability Induced Frequency Comb Generation in a Continuously Pumped Optical Parametric Oscillator

Continuously pumped passive nonlinear cavities can be harnessed for the creation of novel optical frequency combs. While most research has focused on third-order "Kerr" nonlinear interactions, recent studies have shown that frequency comb formation can also occur via second-order nonlinear effects. Here, we report on the formation of quadratic combs in optical parametric oscillator (OPO) configurations. Specifically, we demonstrate that optical frequency combs can be generated in the parametric region around half of the pump frequency in a continuously-driven OPO. We also model the OPO dynamics through a single time-domain mean-field equation, identifying previously unknown dynamical regimes, induced by modulation instabilities, which lead to comb formation. Numerical simulation results are in good agreement with experimentally observed spectra. Moreover, the analysis of the coherence properties of the simulated spectra shows the existence of correlated and phase-locked combs. Our results reveal previously unnoticed dynamics of an apparently well assessed optical system, and can lead to a new class of frequency comb sources that may stimulate novel applications by enabling straightforward access to elusive spectral regions, such as the mid-infrared.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2017

Laser induced fluorescence for axion dark matter detection: a feasibility study in YLiF$_4$:Er$^{3+}$

We present a detection scheme to search for QCD axion dark matter, that is based on a direct interaction between axions and electrons explicitly predicted by DFSZ axion models. The local axion dark matter field shall drive transitions between Zeeman-split atomic levels separated by the axion rest mass energy $m_a c^2$. Axion-related excitations are then detected with an upconversion scheme involving a pump laser that converts the absorbed axion energy ($\sim $ hundreds of $μ$eV) to visible or infrared photons, where single photon detection is an established technique. The proposed scheme involves rare-earth ions doped into solid-state crystalline materials, and the optical transitions take place between energy levels of $4f^N$ electron configuration. Beyond discussing theoretical aspects and requirements to achieve a cosmologically relevant sensitivity, especially in terms of spectroscopic material properties, we experimentally investigate backgrounds due to the pump laser at temperatures in the range $1.9-4.2$ K. Our results rule out excitation of the upper Zeeman component of the ground state by laser-related heating effects, and are of some help in optimizing activated material parameters to suppress the multiphonon-assisted Stokes fluorescence.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2015

Direct generation of optical frequency combs in $χ^{(2)}$ nonlinear cavities

Quadratic nonlinear processes are currently exploited for frequency comb transfer and extension from the visible and near infrared regions to other spectral ranges where direct comb generation cannot be accomplished. However, frequency comb generation has been directly observed in continuously-pumped quadratic nonlinear crystals placed inside an optical cavity. At the same time, an introductory theoretical description of the phenomenon has been provided, showing a remarkable analogy with the dynamics of third-order Kerr microresonators. Here, we give an overview of our recent work on $χ^{(2)}$ frequency comb generation. Furthermore, we generalize the preliminary three-wave spectral model to a many-mode comb and present a stability analysis of different cavity field regimes. Although at a very early stage, our work lays the groundwork for a novel class of highly efficient and versatile frequency comb synthesizers based on second-order nonlinear materials.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2015

Sub-kHz linewidth narrowing of a mid-infrared OPO idler frequency by direct cavity stabilization

We stabilize the idler frequency of a singly-resonant optical parametric oscillator directly to the resonance of a mid-infrared Fabry-Pérot reference cavity. This is accomplished by the Pound-Drever-Hall locking scheme, controlling either the pump laser or the resonant signal frequency. A residual relative frequency noise power spectral density below 10$^3$ Hz$^2$/Hz is reached, with a Gaussian linewidth of 920 Hz over 100 ms, which demonstrates the potential for reaching spectral purity down to the Hz level by locking the optical parametric oscillator against a mid-infrared cavity with state-of-the-art superior performance.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2014

Low-temperature spectroscopy of the $^{12}$C$_2$H$_2$ ($\upsilon_1 +\upsilon_3$) band in a helium buffer gas

Buffer gas cooling with a $^4$He gas is used to perform laser-absorption spectroscopy of the $^{12}$C$_2$H$_2$ ($ν_1+ν_3$) band at cryogenic temperatures. Doppler thermometry is first carried out to extract translational temperatures from the recorded spectra. Then, rotational temperatures down to 20 K are retrieved by fitting the Boltzmann distribution to the relative intensities of several ro-vibrational lines. The underlying helium-acetylene collisional physics, relevant for modeling planetary atmospheres, is also addressed. In particular, the diffusion time of $^{12}$C$_2$H$_2$ in the buffer cell is measured against the $^4$He flux at two separate translational temperatures; the observed behavior is then compared with that predicted by a Monte Carlo simulation, thus providing an estimate for the respective total elastic cross sections: $σ_{el}(100\ {\rm K})=(4\pm1)\cdot 10^{-20}$ m$^{2}$ and $σ_{el}(25\ {\rm K})=(7\pm2)\cdot 10^{-20}$ m$^{2}$.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2003

Superfluid current disruption in a chain of weakly coupled Bose-Einstein Condensates

We report the experimental observation of the disruption of the superfluid atomic current flowing through an array of weakly linked Bose-Einstein condensates. The condensates are trapped in an optical lattice superimposed on a harmonic magnetic potential. The dynamical response of the system to a change of the magnetic potential minimum along the optical lattice axis goes from a coherent oscillation (superfluid regime) to a localization of the condensates in the harmonic trap ("classical" insulator regime). The localization occurs when the initial displacement is larger than a critical value or, equivalently, when the velocity of the wavepacket's center of mass is larger than a critical velocity dependent on the tunnelling rate between adjacent sites.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2003

A Novel Mechanism for Superfluidity Breakdown in Weakly Coupled Bose-Einstein Condensates

This paper has been withdrawn by the authors. The authors have now written two separate papers, one theoretical (A. Smerzi, A. Trombettoni, P. G. Kevrekidis, and A. R. Bishop Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 170402 (2002)) and one experimental (F. S. Cataliotti, L. Fallani, F. Ferlaino, C. Fort, P. Maddaloni, and M. Inguscio New Journal of Physics 5, 71 (2003)).

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2002

Collective excitations of a trapped Bose-Einstein condensate in the presence of a 1D optical lattice

We study low-lying collective modes of a horizontally elongated 87Rb condensate produced in a 3D magnetic harmonic trap with the addition of a 1D periodic potential which is provided by a laser standing-wave along the horizontal axis. While the transverse breathing mode results unperturbed, quadrupole and dipole oscillations along the optical lattice are strongly modified. Precise measurements of the collective mode frequencies at different height of the optical barriers provide a stringent test of the theoretical model recently introduced [M.Kraemer et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 88 180404 (2002)].

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2002

Dynamics of a Bose-Einstein condensate at finite temperature in an atomoptical coherence filter

The macroscopic coherent tunneling through the barriers of a periodic potential is used as an atomoptical filter to separate the condensate and the thermal components of a $^{87}$Rb mixed cloud. We condense in the combined potential of a laser standing-wave superimposed on the axis of a cigar-shape magnetic trap and induce condensate dipole oscillation in the presence of a static thermal component. The oscillation is damped due to interaction with the thermal fraction and we investigate the role played by the periodic potential in the damping process.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2001

Bose-Einstein Condensates in a 1D Optical Lattice

We give an overview on current experiments on Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) in a one-dimensional (1D) optical lattice. We introduce measurements of ground state, tunnelling and dynamical properties as well as investigations of atom optical applications and thermodynamical properties. Measurements of the coherent atomic current in an array of Josephson junctions and the critical velocity for the breakdown of superfluid motion are discussed in detail.

cond-mat↗

arXiv2001

Quasi 2D Bose-Einstein condensation in an optical lattice

We study the phase transition of a gas of Rb atoms to quantum degeneracy in the combined potential of a harmonically confining magnetic trap and the periodic potential of an optical lattice. For high optical lattice potentials we observe a significant change in the temperature dependency of the population of the ground state of the system. The experimental results are explained by the subsequent formation of quasi 2D condensates in the single lattice sites.

cond-mat↗

arXiv2001

Josephson Junction Arrays with Bose-Einstein Condensates

We report on the direct observation of an oscillating atomic current in a one-dimensional array of Josephson junctions realized with an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate. The array is created by a laser standing-wave, with the condensates trapped in the valleys of the periodic potential and weakly coupled by the inter-well barriers. The coherence of multiple tunneling between adjacent wells is continuously probed by atomic interference. The square of the small-amplitude oscillation frequency is proportional to the microscopic tunneling rate of each condensate through the barriers, and provides a direct measurement of the Josephson critical current as a function of the intermediate barrier heights. Our superfluid array may allow investigation of phenomena so far inaccessible to superconducting Josephson junctions and lays a bridge between the condensate dynamics and the physics of discrete nonlinear media.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2001

Expansion of a coherent array of Bose-Einstein condensates

We investigate the properties of a coherent array containing about 200 Bose-Einstein condensates produced in a far detuned 1D optical lattice. The density profile of the gas, imaged after releasing the trap, provides information about the coherence of the ground-state wavefunction. The measured atomic distribution is characterized by interference peaks. The time evolution of the peaks, their relative population as well as the radial size of the expanding cloud are in good agreement with the predictions of theory. The 2D nature of the trapped condensates and the conditions required to observe the effects of coherence are also discussed.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2001

Damping and frequency shift in the oscillations of two colliding Bose-Einstein condensates

We have investigated the center-of-mass oscillations of a Rb87 Bose-Einstein condensate in an elongated magneto-static trap. We start from a trapped condensate and we transfer part of the atoms to another trapped level, by applying a radio-frequency pulse. The new condensate is produced far from its equilibrium position in the magnetic potential, and periodically collides with the parent condensate. We discuss how both the damping and the frequency shift of the oscillations are affected by the mutual interaction between the two condensates, in a wide range of trapping frequencies. The experimental data are compared with the prediction of a mean-field model.

cond-mat↗

arXiv2001

Time-domain atom interferometry across the threshold for Bose-Einstein condensation

We have performed time-domain interferometry experiments with matter waves trapped in an harmonic potential above and below the Bose-Einstein phase transition. We interrogate the atoms according to the method of separated oscillating fields, with a sequence of two radio-frequency pulses, separated by a time delay T. We observe the oscillation of the population between two internal Zeeman states, as a function of the delay T. We find a strong depletion of the interference fringes for both the Bose condensates and the thermal clouds above condensation, even at very short times, when the clouds are still overlapping. Actually, we explain the observed loss of contrast in terms of phase patterns imprinted by the relative motion, as a consequence of the entanglement between the internal and external states of the trapped atoms.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2001

Spatial interference of coherent atomic waves by manipulation of the internal quantum state

A trapped 87Rb Bose-Einstein condensate is initially put into a superposition of two internal states. Under the effect of gravity and by means of a second transition, we prepare two vertically displaced condensates in the same internal state. These constitute two coherent sources of matter waves with adjustable spatial separation. Fringe patterns, observed after free expansion, are associated with the interplay between internal and external degrees of freedom and substantially agree with those for a double slit experiment.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2000

Dynamics of two colliding Bose-Einstein condensates in an elongated magneto-static trap

We study the dynamics of two interacting Bose-Einstein condensates, by numerically solving two coupled Gross-Pitaevskii equations at zero temperature. We consider the case of a sudden transfer of atoms between two trapped states with different magnetic moments: the two condensates are initially created with the same density profile, but are trapped into different magnetic potentials, whose minima are vertically displaced by a distance much larger than the initial size of both condensates. Then the two condensates begin to perform collective oscillations, undergoing a complex evolution, characterized by collisions between the two condensates. We investigate the effects of their mutual interaction on the center-of-mass oscillations and on the time evolution of the aspect ratios. Our theoretical analysis provides a useful insight into the recent experimental observations by Maddaloni et al., cond-mat/0003402.

cond-mat↗