Photonic properties of one-dimensionally ordered cold atomic vapors under conditions of electromagnetically-induced transparency

Alexander Schilke (1) , Claus Zimmermann (1) , William Guerin (1)

1 Physikalisches Institut [Tübingen]

We experimentally study the photonic properties of a cold-atom sample trapped in a one-dimensional optical lattice under the conditions of electromagnetically-induced transparency. We show that such a medium has two photonic band gaps. One of them is in the transparency window and gives rise to a Bragg mirror, which is spectrally very narrow and dynamically tunable. We discuss the advantages and the limitations of this system. As an illustration of a possible application we demonstrate a two-port all-optical switch.

Domaines: Physique Atomique [physics.atom-ph]; Optique [physics.optics]

Alexander Schilke, Claus Zimmermann, William Guerin. Photonic properties of one-dimensionally ordered cold atomic vapors under conditions of electromagnetically-induced transparency. 2012. ⟨hal-00707512v1⟩