L'atténuation d'ondes à basse et haute fréquences dans les verres n'est pas encore bien comprise en grande partie car les phénomènes à l'origine de cette dissipation varient grandement en fonction de la fréquence. L’existence de structures complexes et organisation multi échelle dans les verres favorise l'apparition de temps de relaxation allant de la seconde à la femtoseconde et de corrélation prenant place de l’Angström à la centaine de nanomètre. A basse fréquence, une meilleur compréhension de ces phénomènes de dissipation serait bénéfique à de nombreux domaines. Par exemple, les multi-couches recouvrants les miroirs des interféromètres servant à détecter les ondes gravitationnelles sont réalisées à partir de verres d'oxyde (SiO2 et Ta2O5) qui sont une source majeur de dissipation. A haute fréquence, l'étude de la dissipation pose des questions théoriques sur le lien entre asymétrie locale et atténuation acoustique.Durant cette étude, nous avons réalisé une analyse approfondie de l'interaction entre ondes mécaniques et structure des verres en utilisant des techniques de simulations telle que la dynamique moléculaire. En partant de la synthèse de verres de SiO2 et Ta2O5, nous nous sommes appliqués à trouver l'origine structurelle de la dissipation aux différentes échelles de fréquence. A basse fréquence nous avons été capable de catégoriser les déplacements atomiques à l'origine de la dissipation en utilisant la théorie des états à deux niveaux. A haute fréquence, nous avons utilisé une technique de spectroscopie mécanique appuyé par un développement analytique pour montrer l'importance du désordre local dans l’existence de dissipation / The origin of sound attenuation at low and high frequency in glasses stays elusive mainly because of the complex temperature and frequency dependence of the phenomena at its root. Indeed, the presence of complex structures and multi-scale organizations in glasses induce the existence of relaxation time ranging from the second to the femto-second and of spatial correlation ranging from the Angström to a hundred nanometers. At low-frequency, a better understanding of the phenomena at the origin of dissipation would be beneficial to several applications. For example, the multi-layers coating the mirrors of gravitational waves detectors consists of a superposition of two oxide glasses: silicate (SiO2) and tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5), are an important source of dissipation. At high frequency, the study of dissipation raises theoretical questions about the link between attenuation and dissipation as well as between loclt asymmetry and dissipation. In the present study, we conducted an analysis of the interaction between mechanical waves and the structure of two oxide glasses using simulation techniques such as non-equilibrium molecular dynamics. At high-frequencies, we implemented and used mechanical spectroscopy to measure dissipation numerically and performed in parallel an analytical development based on the projection of the atomic motion on the vibrational eigenmodes. At low-frequencies, we used molecular dynamics to gather sets of thermally activated events that we classed in three categories based on topologically distinct atomic motions and from which we predicted dissipation numerically using a refreshed TLS model

It is well known that the optical properties of multi-level atomic and molecular system can be controlled and manipulated efficiently using quantum coherence and interference, which has led to many new effects in quantum optics for e.g. lasing action without population inversion, ultraslow light, high resolution nonlinear spectroscopy etc. Recent experimental and theoretical studies have also provided support for the hypothesis that biological systems uses quantum coherence. Nearly perfect excitation energy transfer in photosynthesis is an excellent example of this. In this dissertation we studied quantum coherence and interference effects in the transient and the continuous-wave regimes. This study led to (i) the first experimental demonstration of carrier-envelope phase effects on bound-bound atomic excitation in multi-cycle regime (~15 cycles), (ii) a unique possibility for standoff detection of trace gases using their rotational and vibrational spectroscopic signals and from herein called Coherent Raman Umklappscattering, (iii) several possibilities for frequency up-conversion and generation of short-wavelength radiation using quantum coherence (iv) the measurement of spontaneous emission noise intensity in Yoked-superfluorescence scheme. Applications of the obtained results are development of XUV (X-Ray) lasers, con- trolled superfluorescent (superradiant) emission, carrier-envelope phase effects, coherent Raman scattering in the backward direction, enhancement of efficiency for generating radiation in XUV and X-Ray regime using quantum coherence with and without population inversion and to extend XUV and X-Ray lasing to ~4.023 nm in Helium-like carbon.

The Landau-Zener-Stückelberg-Majorana (LZSM) problem models diabatic transitions between energy levels in quantum two-level systems with an avoided level-crossing. The diabatic transition is a consequence of quantum tunneling in energy space when the system's Hamiltonian is perturbed with a fast-acting bias. The probability of transition between the energy states for a linear bias is known as the LZSM transition probability. The objective of this work is to investigate the LZSM problem through analytical and numerical lenses. The LZSM transition probability is derived in two ways. The first approach is based on Majorana's solution using contour integrals. The second derivation follows Landau's quasi-classical treatment. The derivations demonstrate methods for transitions in the presence of time-dependent perturbations. The ubiquity of the two-level system is discussed and an application on qubits concerning LSZM interferometry is presented, with the latter arising after considering periodic biases. Lastly, a simulation of the two-level system is conducted using Trotter-decomposed time-evolution operators, perturbation theory, and vectorization. The simulated transition probabilities for linear and periodic biases are obtained for varied parameters. The results show that the simulation achieves an accurate and efficient emulation of the LZSM problem.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T12:14:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 5247280 bytes, checksum: a825d4cf1e9d423d3daa9794ddd2962e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-07-23 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The response of a material to an incident radiation can be described in terms of the susceptibility of the medium. In an atomic vapor, this susceptibility strongly depends on the frequency of the radiation and can vary over several orders of magnitude near the resonance. When a material is illuminated by light whose electric field is intense, the Kerr effect may become significant, showing a linear variation of the refractive index as a function of the intensity of the laser beam. Several techniques allow the measurement of this nonlinear effect. One of the simplest and most accurate is the z-scan technique. It consists in moving the medium to be probed along the axis of a focused laser beam. The transmittance through an aperture is measured as a function of the cell position and the obtained curve allows one to determine the nonlinear refractive index (n2) of the material. In this work, we investigate the nonlinear refractive index of a vapor of cesium atoms. We used the z-scan technique for various detunings around the Cs D2 transition (wavelength at 852 nm). To monitor the frequency of the laser, we simultaneously used an auxiliary saturated absorption setup and a Fabry-Perot analyzer. Through simple relationships between n2 and the aperture transmittance, we obtained a value for n2 as a function of the laser detuning. A theoretical model was developed to be compared to our experimental results. We used the density matrix formalism to calculate n2, taking into account the velocity distribution of the atoms in the calculation of the matrix elements. We started by treating the atoms as two-level systems, which allows us to test different limits of velocity integration. We then carried out a more realistic model for the D2 line of Cs, considering one fundamental level and three excited levels. We showed that for each hyperfine transition, the third-order fundamental-excited coherence depends on the population of the excited states as well as on the coherence created between the excited levels. To our knowledge, our experimental results are the first measurements of n2 for a cesium vapor, using the z-scan technique. The measured values of n2 are consistent with our theoretical calculations. / A resposta de um meio material à radiação incidente pode ser descrita em termos da susceptibilidade ótica desse meio. Em vapores atômicos, essa susceptibilidade depende fortemente da freqüência da radiação e pode variar, em torno da ressonância, por várias ordens de grandeza. Quando um material é iluminado por um feixe de luz cujo campo elétrico é muito intenso, evidencia-se o efeito Kerr, ou seja, o próprio índice de refração do material varia linearmente com a intensidade do feixe laser. Para medir esse efeito não linear da polarização do material, existem varias técnicas na literatura. Uma das mais simples e precisa é a varredura z (z-scan). O z-scan consiste em deslocar o meio a ser estudado ao longo do eixo de um feixe laser focalizado. Mede-se então a transmitância através de uma abertura, em função da posição da célula. A partir dessa curva de transmitância, é possível determinar o índice de refração não linear do material. Neste trabalho, investigamos a dependência espectral do índice de refração não linear do vapor atômico de césio. Realizamos experimentos com a técnica z-scan para várias dessintonizações na linha D2 (comprimento de onda de 852 nm). O monitoramento da freqüência do laser é feito através de uma montagem auxiliar de absorção saturada e de uma cavidade Fabry-Pérot. Utilizando relações simples entre n2 e a transmitância na abertura, obtivemos um valor de n2 para cada dessintonização. Para interpretar os resultados experimentais, usamos o formalismo de matriz densidade para calcular teoricamente o n2. No cálculo dos elementos da matriz densidade, deve-se levar em consideração a distribuição de velocidades dos átomos. Iniciamos nosso modelo tratando os átomos como sistemas de dois níveis, com o objetivo de compreender os diferentes limites da integração em velocidade. Em seguida passamos para um modelo mais realista para a linha D2 do Cs envolvendo um nível fundamental e três excitados. Mostramos que, para cada transição hiperfina, a coerência fundamental-excitada de terceira ordem depende de efeito de população dos estados excitados e da coerência criada entre eles. Nossos resultados experimentais são, até onde sabemos, as primeiras medidas usando z-scan para a obtenção do indice de refração de vapor de césio. Os valores medidos de n2 são condizentes com os nossos cálculos teóricos.

Les boîtes quantiques sont des sources de photons uniques prometteuses pour les réseaux d’information quantique, qui peuvent être intégrées dans des circuits photoniques et s’appuyer sur des technologies de semi-conducteur éprouvées. Dans ce contexte, ce travail se concentre sur les propriétés d’indiscernabilité des photons émis par une boîte quantique semiconductrice sous excitation résonnante. Nous utilisons une configuration particulière où les boîtes sont insérées dans une microcavité planaire permettant de s’affranchir du fond de diffusion parasite du laser d’excitation et d’améliorer la collection du signal d’émission. Nous pouvons ainsi explorer un régime de très basse puissance, où les photons d’excitation sont diffusés élastiquement sur la transition fondamentale de la boîte quantique (régime de diffusion Rayleigh résonnante). Dans ce régime, la cohérence du laser d’excitation est transmise aux photons émis, faisant des boîtes quantiques une source de photons uniques avec une cohérence extrêmement longue.Les propriétés d’indiscernabilité sont étudiées en utilisant les interférences à deux photons (coalescence) dans un interféromètre de Hong–Ou–Mandel. Une étude expérimentale complète de l’indiscernabilité est présentée en fonction de la puissance d’excitation ainsi que du temps de cohérence du laser d’excitation. Elle montre en particulier l’effet de la diffusion élastique dans la limite de basse puissance d’excitation. Il apparaît qu’une nouvelle caractéristique quantitative doit être introduite afin d’estimer l’indiscernabilité en tant que phénomène temporel, un aspect particulièrement important lorsque les émetteurs sont des sources continues de photons. / Quantum dots are good candidates as single photon emitters for quantum information networks, facilitating their integration in photonic circuits based on well known semiconductor technology. In this context, this work focuses on the indistinguishability of the photons emitted by semiconductor quantum dots excited resonantly. We use a peculiar configuration where the quantumdots are embedded in a planar microcavity, allowing for better excitation and collection efficiencies. We are then able to investigate very low excitation power regimes, where the photons are elastically scattered by the fundamental transition of the quantum dot (Resonant Rayleigh Scattering). In this regime, the coherence of the excitation laser is imprinted on the emitted photons, making the quantum dot a source of single photons with a very long coherence.The indistinguishability is investigated by using a Hong–Ou–Mandel interferometer to perform two-photon interference. We carry out a comprehensive experimental study of the excitation power dependence of the indistinguishability as well as its dependence on the excitation laser coherence, which shows the important role of elastic scattering in the low excitation power limit. It appears that a new figure of merit needs to be introduced to assess the indistinguishability as a temporal phenomenon, an aspect which is particularly relevant when dealing with continuous-wave excitation.

No description available.

This thesis theoretically and experimentally studies the characteristics of integrated microresonators (MRs) built by passive (no gain) and non-magnetic materials and characterized by both Hermitian and non-Hermitian Hamiltonians. In particular, I have studied three different microresonators: a typical Microring Resonator (MR), a Taiji Microresonator (TJMR), which consists of a microresonator with an embedded S-shaped waveguide, and a new geometry called the Infinity-Loop Microresonator (ILMR), which is characterized by a microresonator shaped like the infinity symbol coupled at two points to the bus waveguide. To get an accurate picture of the three devices, they were modeled using both the transfer matrix method and the temporal coupled mode theory. Neglecting propagation losses, the MR is described by a Hermitian Hamiltonian, while the TJMR and the ILMR are described by a non-Hermitian one. An important difference between Hermitian and non-Hermitian systems concerns their degeneracies. Hermitian degeneracies are called Diabolic Points (DPs) and are characterized by coincident eigenvalues and mutually orthogonal eigenvectors. In contrast, non-Hermitian degeneracies are called Exceptional Points (EPs). At the EP, both the eigenvalues and the eigenvectors coalesce. The MR is at a DP instead, and the TJMR and the ILMR are at an EP. Since the TJMR and ILMR are at an EP, they have interesting features such as the possibility of being unidirectional reflectors. Here, it is shown experimentally how in the case of the TJMR this degeneracy can also be used to break Lorentz reciprocity in the nonlinear regime (high incident laser powers), discussing the effect of the Fabry-Perot of the bus waveguide facets. The effect of backscattering, mainly due to the waveguide surface-wall roughness, on the microresonators is also studied. This phenomenon induces simultaneous excitation of the clockwise and counterclockwise modes, leading to eigenvalue splitting. This splitting makes the use of typical quality factor estimation methods unfeasible. To overcome this problem and mitigate the negative effects of backscattering, a new experimental technique called interferometric excitation is introduced. This technique involves coherent excitation of the microresonator from both sides of the bus waveguide, allowing selective excitation of a single supermode. By adjusting the relative phase and amplitude between the excitation fields, the splitting in the transmission spectrum can be eliminated, resulting in improved quality factors and eigenvalue measurements. It is shown that this interferometric technique can be exploited under both stationary and dynamic conditions of time evolution. The thesis also investigates the sensing performance of the three microresonators as a function of a backscattering perturbation, which could be caused, for example, by the presence of a molecule or particle near the microresonator waveguide. It is shown that the ILMR has better performance in terms of responsivity and sensitivity than the other two microresonators. In fact, it has both the enhanced sensitivity due to the square root dependence of the splitting on the perturbation (characteristic of EPs) and the ability to completely eliminate the region of insensitivity as the backscattering perturbation approaches zero, which is present in both the other two microresonators. To validate the models used, they were compared with experimental measurements both in the linear regime and, for TJMR, also in the nonlinear regime, with excellent agreement.