2024/05/02 by Yi-Mou Liu, Lin Zhang, Liu, Yi-Mou +1
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Atomic Physics (physics.atom-ph) #FOS: Physical sciences #Mechanical and Optical Resonators #Photonic and Optical Devices #Quantum Physics (quant-ph) #Quantum optics and atomic interactions
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2405.01528
openalex publication_date 2024/05/02 · openalex created_date 2024/05/05 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We propose a theoretical scheme for a non-Hermitian atomic grating within an ultra-cold rubidium-87 (87Rb) atomic ensemble. The grating's diffraction properties depend on the polarization states of incident photons and are controlled non-locally through Rydberg interactions. Multiple types of polarization-dependent diffraction modes are generated, benefiting from no crosstalk atomic transition channels based on transition selection rules. Those polarization-dependent diffraction modes can be switched using dynamic optical pulse trains, exploiting the Rydberg blockade effect, and are tunable by non-Hermitian optical modulation. Our work will advance the application of asymmetric optical scattering by utilizing the polarization degree of freedom within continuous media and benefit the application of versatile non-Hermitian/asymmetric optical devices.