High-efficiency topological pumping with discrete supersymmetry transformations.

Making use of the isospectrality of Supersymmetry transformations, we propose a general and high-fidelity method to prepare gapped topological modes in discrete systems from a single-site excitation. The method consists of adiabatically connecting two superpartner structures, deforming the input state into the desired mode. We demonstrate the method by pumping topological states of the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model in an optical waveguide array, where the adiabatic deformation is performed along the propagation direction. We obtain fidelities above F = 0.99 for a wide range of coupling strengths when pumping edge and interface states.

Spatially strongly confined atomic excitation via a two dimensional stimulated Raman adiabatic passage.

We consider a method of sub-wavelength superlocalization and patterning of atomic matter waves via a two dimensional stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (2D STIRAP) process. An atom initially prepared in its ground level interacts with a doughnut-shaped optical vortex pump beam and a traveling wave Stokes laser beam with a constant (top-hat) intensity profile in space. The beams are sent in a counter-intuitive temporal sequence, in which the Stokes pulse precedes the pump pulse. The atoms interacting with both the traveling wave and the vortex beam are transferred to a final state through the 2D STIRAP, while those located at the core of the vortex beam remain in the initial state, creating a super-narrow nanometer scale atomic spot in the spatial distribution of ground state atoms. By numerical simulations we show that the 2D STIRAP approach outperforms the established method of coherent population trapping, yielding much stronger confinement of atomic excitation. Numerical simulations of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation show that using such a method one can create 2D bright and dark solitonic structures in trapped Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs). The method allows one to circumvent the restriction set by the diffraction limit inherent to conventional methods for formation of localized solitons, with a full control over the position and size of nanometer resolution defects.

Supersymmetry-enhanced stark-chirped rapid-adiabatic-passage in multimode optical waveguides.

We propose a method to efficiently pump an excited mode of a multimode optical waveguide starting from a fundamental-mode input by combining Stark-Chirped Rapid Adiabatic Passage (SCRAP) and Supersymmetry (SUSY) transformations. In a two-waveguide set, we implement SCRAP by modulating the core refractive index of one waveguide, which is evanescently coupled to its SUSY partner. SCRAP provides an efficient transfer of light intensity between the modes of different waveguides, while SUSY allows to control which modes are supported. Using both techniques allows to achieve fidelities above 99% for the pumping of the excited mode of a two-mode waveguide. Additionally, we show that SCRAP can be exploited to spatially separate superpositions of fundamental and excited modes, and how SUSY can also improve the results for this application.

Integrated photonic devices based on adiabatic transitions between supersymmetric structures.

We introduce adiabatic transitions connecting two supersymmetric partner profiles by smoothly modifying the transverse refractive index profile along the propagation direction. With this transformation, one of the transverse electric modes evolves adapting its shape and propagation constant without being coupled to other guided or radiated modes while the rest of the modes are radiated. This technique offers a systematic way to manipulate the modal content in systems of optical waveguides and engineer efficient and robust photonic devices such as tapered waveguides, single-waveguide mode filters, beam splitters and interferometers. Numerical simulations show that very high fidelities and transmitted powers are obtained for a broad range of devices lengths and light's wavelengths.

Mode-division (de)multiplexing using adiabatic passage and supersymmetric waveguides.

The development of mode-division multiplexing techniques is an important step to increase the information processing capacity. In this context, we design an efficient and robust mode-division (de)multiplexing integrated device based on the combination of spatial adiabatic passage and supersymmetric techniques. It consists of two identical step-index external waveguides coupled to a supersymmetric central one with a specific modal content that prevents the transfer of the fundamental transverse electric spatial mode. The separation between waveguides is engineered along the propagation direction to optimize spatial adiabatic passage for the first excited transverse electric spatial mode of the step-index waveguides. Thus, by injecting a superposition of the two lowest spatial modes into the step-index left waveguide, the fundamental mode remains in the left waveguide while the first excited mode is fully transmitted to the right waveguide. Output fidelities ℱ > 0.90 are obtained for a broad range of geometrical parameter values and light's wavelengths, reaching ℱ = 0.99 for optimized values.

Interferometric characterization of the structured polarized light beam produced by the conical refraction phenomenon.

The interest on the conical refraction (CR) phenomenon in biaxial crystals has revived in the last years due to its prospective for generating structured polarized light beams, i.e. vector beams. While the intensity and the polarization structure of the CR beams are well known, an accurate experimental study of their phase structure has not been yet carried out. We investigate the phase structure of the CR rings by means of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer while applying the phase-shifting interferometric technique to measure the phase at the focal plane. In general the two beams interfering correspond to different states of polarization (SOP) which locally vary. To distinguish if there is an additional phase added to the geometrical one we have derived the appropriate theoretical expressions using the Jones matrix formalism. We demonstrate that the phase of the CR rings is equivalent to that one introduced by an azimuthally segmented polarizer with CR-like polarization distribution. Additionally, we obtain direct evidence that the Poggendorff dark ring is an annular singularity, with a π phase change between the inner and outer bright rings.

Optimization, tolerance analysis and implementation of a Stokes polarimeter based on the conical refraction phenomenon.

Recently, we introduced the basic concepts behind a new polarimeter device based on conical refraction (CR), which presents several appealing features compared to standard polarimeters. To name some of them, CR polarimeters retrieve the polarization state of an input light beam with a snapshot measurement, allow for substantially enhancing the data redundancy without increasing the measuring time, and avoid instrumental errors owing to rotating elements or phase-to-voltage calibration typical from dynamic devices. In this article, we present a comprehensive study of the optimization, robustness and parameters tolerance of CR based polarimeters. In addition, a particular CR based polarimetric architecture is experimentally implemented, and some concerns and recommendations are provided. Finally, the implemented polarimeter is experimentally tested by measuring different states of polarization, including fully and partially polarized light.

Nanoscale resolution for fluorescence microscopy via adiabatic passage.

We propose the use of the subwavelength localization via adiabatic passage technique for fluorescence microscopy with nanoscale resolution in the far field. This technique uses a Λ-type medium coherently coupled to two laser pulses: the pump, with a node in its spatial profile, and the Stokes. The population of the Λ system is adiabatically transferred from one ground state to the other except at the node position, yielding a narrow population peak. This coherent localization allows fluorescence imaging with nanometer lateral resolution. We derive an analytical expression to asses the resolution and perform a comparison with the coherent population trapping and the stimulated-emission-depletion techniques.

Conical refraction as a tool for polarization metrology.

A method for polarization metrology based on the conical refraction (CR) phenomenon, occurring in biaxial crystals, is reported. CR transforms an input Gaussian beam into a light ring whose intensity distribution is linked to the incoming polarization. We present the design of a division-of-amplitude complete polarimeter composed of two biaxial crystals, whose measurement principle is based on the CR phenomenon. This design corresponds to a static polarimeter, that is, without mechanical movements or electrical signal addressing. Only one division-of-amplitude device is required, besides the two biaxial crystals, to completely characterize any state of polarization, including partially polarized and unpolarized states. In addition, a mathematical model describing the system is included. Experimental images of the intensity distribution related to different input polarization states are provided. These intensity patterns are compared with simulated values, proving the potential of polarimeters based on biaxial crystals.

Multiple rings formation in cascaded conical refraction.

When a light beam passes through a cascade of biaxial crystals (BCs) with aligned optic axes, the resulting transverse intensity pattern consists of multiple concentric rings. We provide a simple formulation for the pattern formation for both circularly and linearly polarized input beams, that could be applied for a cascade of an arbitrary number of BCs. We have experimentally investigated multiple ring formation with up to three cascade BCs, showing that the theoretical formulation is in full agreement with the experimental results.

Type I and type II second harmonic generation of conically refracted beams.

Type I and type II second harmonic generation (SHG) of a beam transformed by the conical refraction phenomenon are presented. We show that, for type I, the second harmonic intensity pattern is a light ring with a point of null intensity while, for type II, the light ring possesses two dark regions. Taking into account the different two-photon processes involved in SHG, we have derived analytical expressions for the resulting transverse intensity patterns that are in good agreement with the experimental data. Finally, we have investigated the spatial evolution of the second harmonic signals, showing that they behave as conically refracted beams.

Free-space optical polarization demultiplexing and multiplexing by means of conical refraction.

Polarization demultiplexing and multiplexing by means of conical refraction is proposed to increase the channel capacity for free-space optical communication applications. The proposed technique is based on the forward-backward optical transform occurring when a light beam propagates consecutively along the optic axes of two identical biaxial crystals with opposite orientations of their conical refraction characteristic vectors. We present an experimental proof of usefulness of the conical refraction demultiplexing and multiplexing technique by increasing in one order of magnitude the channel capacity at optical frequencies in a propagation distance of 4 m.

Artificial gauge field switching using orbital angular momentum modes in optical waveguides.

The discovery of artificial gauge fields controlling the dynamics of uncharged particles that otherwise elude the influence of standard electromagnetic fields has revolutionised the field of quantum simulation. Hence, developing new techniques to induce these fields is essential to boost quantum simulation of photonic structures. Here, we experimentally demonstrate the generation of an artificial gauge field in a photonic lattice by modifying the topological charge of a light beam, overcoming the need to modify the geometry along the evolution or impose external fields. In particular, we show that an effective magnetic flux naturally appears when a light beam carrying orbital angular momentum is injected into a waveguide lattice with a diamond chain configuration. To demonstrate the existence of this flux, we measure an effect that derives solely from the presence of a magnetic flux, the Aharonov-Bohm caging effect, which is a localisation phenomenon of wavepackets due to destructive interference. Therefore, we prove the possibility of switching on and off artificial gauge fields just by changing the topological charge of the input state, paving the way to accessing different topological regimes in a single structure, which represents an important step forward for optical quantum simulation.

Coherent population trapping in two-electron three-level systems with aligned spins.

The possibility of coherent population trapping in two electron states with aligned spins (orthosystem) is evidenced. From the analysis of a three-level atomic system containing two electrons, and driven by the two laser fields needed for coherent population trapping, a conceptually new kind of dark state appears. The properties of this trapping are physically interpreted in terms of a dark hole, instead of a dark two-electron state. This technique, among many other applications, offers the possibility of measuring, with subnatural resolution, some superposition-state matrix elements of the electron-electron correlation that due to their time dependent nature are inaccessible by standard measuring procedures.