Nonlinear absorption in interacting Rydberg electromagnetically-induced-transparency spectra on two-photon resonance

We experimentally investigate the nonlinear transmission spectrum of coherent light fields propagating through a Rydberg EIT medium with strong atomic interactions. In contrast to previous investigations, which have largely focused on resonant control fields, we explore here the full two-dimensional...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:arXiv.org 2021-08
Main Authors: Tebben, Annika, Hainaut, Clément, Salzinger, Andre, Geier, Sebastian, Titus, Franz, Pohl, Thomas, Gärttner, Martin, Zürn, Gerhard, Weidemüller, Matthias
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atomic interactions
Coherent light
Nonlinear response
Photons
Resonance
Spectra
Spectral sensitivity
Spectral signatures
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Summary:We experimentally investigate the nonlinear transmission spectrum of coherent light fields propagating through a Rydberg EIT medium with strong atomic interactions. In contrast to previous investigations, which have largely focused on resonant control fields, we explore here the full two-dimensional spectral response of the Rydberg gas. Our measurements confirm previously observed spectral features for a vanishing control-field detuning, but also reveal significant differences on two-photon resonance. In particular, we find qualitative deficiencies of mean-field models and rate-equation simulations as well as a third-order nonlinear susceptibility that accounts for pair-wise interaction effects at low probe-field intensities in describing the nonlinear probe-field response under EIT conditions. Our results suggest that a more complete understanding of Rydberg-EIT and emerging photon interactions requires to go beyond existing simplified models as well as few-photon theories.
ISSN:2331-8422
DOI:10.48550/arxiv.2102.11654