We describe a resonator-based optical gyroscope whose sensitivity for measuring absolute rotation is enhanced via use of the anomalous dispersion characteristic of superluminal light propagation. The enhancement is given by the inverse of the group index, saturating to a bound determined by the group velocity dispersion. We also show how the offsetting effect of the concomitant broadening of the resonator linewidth may be circumvented by using an active cavity. For realistic conditions, the enhancement factor is as high as 10 6 . We also show how normal dispersion used for slow light can enhance relative rotation sensing in a specially designed Sagnac interferometer, with the enhancement given by the slowing factor.

We report the observation of low-light level optical interactions in a tapered optical nanofiber (TNF) embedded in a hot rubidium vapor. The small optical mode area plays a significant role in the optical properties of the hot vapor Rb-TNF system, allowing nonlinear optical interactions with nW level powers even in the presence of transit-time dephasing rates much larger than the intrinsic linewidth. We demonstrate nonlinear absorption and V-type electromagnetically induced transparency with cw powers below 10 nW, comparable to the best results in any Rb-optical waveguide system. The good performance and flexibility of the Rb-TNF system makes it a very promising candidate for ultralow power resonant nonlinear optical applications.

Recently, the design of a white-light-cavity has been proposed using negative dispersion in an intra-cavity medium to make the cavity resonate over a large range of frequencies and still maintain a high cavity build-up. This paper presents the demonstration of this effect in a free-space cavity. The negative dispersion of the intra-cavity medium is caused by bi-frequency Raman gain in an atomic vapor cell. A significantly broad cavity response over a bandwidth greater than 20 MHz has been observed. The experimental results agree well with the theoretical model, taking into account effects of residual absorption. A key application of this device would be in enhancing the sensitivity-bandwidth product of the next generation gravitational wave detectors that make use of the so-called signal-recycling mirror.

We have investigated, theoretically as well as experimentally, the relative merits and demerits of using three different optical configurations for a compact coherent population trapping (CPT) vapor clock using 87 Rb. These correspond to the following choices of polarizations for the two Raman beams: ∥ lin lin, ( σ σ , ), and push-pull optical pumping (PPOP), applied on the D1 manifold. We have used a multi-level atomic model to study the dependence of the CPT spectrum on axial as well as transverse magnetic fields for these three schemes. Corresponding experimental studies have been performed using a laboratory scale CPT clock employing a two cm long, isotopically pure rubidium cell, loaded with a buffer gas. We observed a CPT contrast close to 20% with a sub-kilohertz linewidth by adopting the PPOP scheme. We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each of the three optical excitation schemes, and present frequency-stability measurement data for the prototype clock.

We demonstrate superluminal light propagation using two frequency multiplexed pump beams to produce a gain doublet in a photorefractive crystal of Ce:BaTiO(3). The two gain lines are obtained by two-wave mixing between a probe field and two individual pump fields. The angular frequencies of the pumps are symmetrically tuned from the frequency of the probe. The frequency difference between the pumps corresponds to the separation of the two gain lines; as it increases, the crystal gradually converts from normal dispersion without detuning to an anomalously dispersive medium. The time advance is measured as 0.28 sec for a pulse propagating through a medium with a 2 Hz gain separation, compared to the same pulse propagating through empty space. We also demonstrate directly anomalous dispersion profile using a modified experimental configuration. Finally, we discuss how anomalous dispersion produced this way in a faster photorefractive crystal (such as SPS: Sn(2)P(2)S(6)) could be employed to enhance the sensitivity-bandwidth product of a LIGO type gravitational wave detector augmented by a White Light Cavity.