Quantum dynamics induced by interactions between structured light and matter

Rocío Jáuregui (UNAM)

ABSTRACT: 

Recent years have witnessed an increased use of structured light to control the configuration of atomic systems in an effective and flexible manner. In order to continue this trend—and take full advantage of structured light over classical and quantum devices—a deep understanding of the intrinsic properties of diverse electromagnetic fields, their expected effects on material systems, and the photonic back reaction, is needed. In this talk, I will present some examples on how structured light fields affect the evolution of atomic clouds in both the ultra cold and thermal regimes. Emphasis will be placed on the identification of diverse dynamical properties of the structured field and their relation to its temporal and spatial configuration. Novel scenarios where these properties determine the evolution of internal and external degrees-of-freedom of atomic systems will then be given, as well as the challenges to implement those scenarios. Finally, I will discuss nonlinear optical processes where non-conventional dynamical variables of input photons are inherited into the output, sometimes leading to unexpected physical peculiarities.

RECOMMENDED PAPERS: 

  1. On the electrostatic interactions involving long-range Rydberg molecules, Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics 54 (17), 175101 (2021),DOI: 10.1088/1361-6455/ac2472
  2. Morphologies of caustics and dislocation lines : some clues about their interrelation, Journal of the Optical Society of America A, 0(7.0)(2021), 963.0-972.0, DOI: 10.1364/JOSAA.426024,
  3. Generalized angular momentum transfer to up-converted photons via four-wave mixing in atomic gases, Physical ReviewResearch,3.0(2021),DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevResearch. 3.033170 .
  4. Spontaneous transition rates near the focus of a parabolic mirror with identification of the vectorial modes involved, Scientific Reports-Nature, 10(1), 17383 (2020), DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74377-2

BIO:

Rocío Jáuregui performed her graduate and postgraduate studies at the Universidad  Nacional Autónoma de México. (UNAM). She has worked on the interaction of light and matter from diverse points of view: high precision atomic spectroscopy,  Casimir effect, pair creation and control of atomic transition rates due to physical boundaries, classical and quantum description of structured electromagnetic fields and their effect on thermal and ultracold atomic samples, simulations of ultracold bosonic and fermionic atoms, and the analysis of the quantum nonlinear optical response of different media. Her work has been supplemented by teaching activities. Nowadays, Prof. Jáuregui coordinates the Laboratorio Nacional de Materia Cuántica which incorporates 11 Mexican research institutions. She belongs to the recently created Department of Quantum Physics and Photonics at Instituto de Física  (UNAM).