All-Optical Switching in Rubidium Vapor
Andrew M. C. Dawes,
Lucas Illing,
Susan M. Clark,
Daniel J. Gauthier*
We report on an all-optical switch that operates at low light
levels. It consists of laser beams counterpropagating through
a warm rubidium vapor that induce an off-axis optical pattern.
A switching laser beam causes this pattern to rotate even when
the power in the switching beam is much lower than the power
in the pattern. The observed switching energy density is very
low, suggesting that the switch might operate at the single-photon
level with system optimization. This approach opens the possibility
of realizing a single-photon switch for quantum information
networks and for improving transparent optical telecommunication
networks.
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: gauthier{at}phy.duke.edu
