Broadband optical delay with large dynamic range using atomic dispersion

Abstract

We report on a tunable all-optical delay line for pulses with optical frequency within the Rb $D_2$ absorption line. Using frequency tuning between absorption components from different isotopes, pulses of 10 ns duration are delayed in a 10 cm hot vapour cell by up to 40 ns while the transmission remains above 10%. The use of two isotopes allows the delay to be increased or decreased by optical pumping with a second laser, producing rapid tuning over a range of more than 40% of the initial delay at 110${}^{\circ }$C. We investigate the frequency and intensity ranges in which this delay line can be realised. Our observations are in good agreement with a numerical model of the system.

8 pages, 5 figures

References in corpus (3)

• Wide-bandwidth, tunable, multiple-pulse-width optical delays using slow light in cesium vapor
• Low-distortion slow light using two absorption resonances
• All-Optical Delay of Images using Slow Light

Cited by in corpus (4)

• Absolute absorption on the rubidium D lines: comparison between theory and experiment
• Slow-light Faraday effect: an atomic probe with gigahertz bandwidth
• Off-resonance absorption and dispersion in a Doppler-broadened medium
• Optical precursors in transparent media