Coherent effects in atomic and molecular media: applications to anthrax detection and quantum information
Date
2006-10-30
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Texas A&M University
Abstract
In the present quantum optics and laser physics study, the non-linear interaction
of electromagnetic fields with atomic, molecular and biomolecular media is analyzed.
Particular emphasis is given to coherent phenomena, while propagation and dispersion
effects are also extensively investigated. The fields involved vary from ultra short
pulses to continuous waves; while their energies range from the very strong that are
addressed classically, to the very weak which are described quantum mechanically.
Applications and problems addressed span a wide range. A scheme for a real time
detector of chemical and biological hazards, like anthrax spores, is presented; in it,
a strong spectroscopic signature is obtained from complex molecules by using ultrashort,
femtosecond, laser pulses and inducing vibrational coherence on them. Furthermore,
a way of reversing the phase matching condition in coherent spectroscopy,
based on dispersion, is developed; which allows for the use of such spectroscopic methods
in remote detection. More fundamental questions addressed include a resolution
of the centennial old paradox of Maxwell's demon via quantum thermodynamics, and
the role of atomic coherence in enhancing the efficiency of a heat engine as well as
in obtaining lasing without population inversion. Additionally, a quantum storage
scheme is presented, in which the information contained in an optical pulse is stored
and restored via photon echoes.
Description
Keywords
Quantum Optics, Nonlinear Laser Physics, Coherent Effects, Quantum Information