On September 14, 2015 at 09:50:45 UTC the two detectors of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory simultaneously observed a transient gravitational-wave signal. The signal sweeps upwards in frequency from 35 to 250 Hz with a peak gravitational-wave strain of 1.0×10(-21). It matches the waveform predicted by general relativity for the inspiral and merger of a pair of black holes and the ringdown of the resulting single black hole. The signal was observed with a matched-filter signal-to-noise ratio of 24 and a false alarm rate estimated to be less than 1 event per 203,000 years, equivalent to a significance greater than 5.1σ. The source lies at a luminosity distance of 410(-180)(+160)  Mpc corresponding to a redshift z=0.09(-0.04)(+0.03). In the source frame, the initial black hole masses are 36(-4)(+5)M⊙ and 29(-4)(+4)M⊙, and the final black hole mass is 62(-4)(+4)M⊙, with 3.0(-0.5)(+0.5)M⊙c(2) radiated in gravitational waves. All uncertainties define 90% credible intervals. These observations demonstrate the existence of binary stellar-mass black hole systems. This is the first direct detection of gravitational waves and the first observation of a binary black hole merger.

/pdf/the-observation-of-gravitational-waves-from-a-binary-black-58srpupgg9.pdf

The Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Black Hole Merger

Coherent preparation by laser light of quantum states of atoms and molecules can lead to quantum interference in the amplitudes of optical transitions. In this way the optical properties of a medium can be dramatically modified, leading to electromagnetically induced transparency and related effects, which have placed gas-phase systems at the center of recent advances in the development of media with radically new optical properties. This article reviews these advances and the new possibilities they offer for nonlinear optics and quantum information science. As a basis for the theory of electromagnetically induced transparency the authors consider the atomic dynamics and the optical response of the medium to a continuous-wave laser. They then discuss pulse propagation and the adiabatic evolution of field-coupled states and show how coherently prepared media can be used to improve frequency conversion in nonlinear optical mixing experiments. The extension of these concepts to very weak optical fields in the few-photon limit is then examined. The review concludes with a discussion of future prospects and potential new applications.

/pdf/electromagnetically-induced-transparency-optics-in-coherent-2dhges92td.pdf

Electromagnetically induced transparency : Optics in coherent media

Summary form only given. Fundamental processes in atoms, molecules, as well as condensed matter are triggered or mediated by the motion of electrons inside or between atoms. Electronic dynamics on atomic length scales tends to unfold within tens to thousands of attoseconds (1 attosecond [as] = 10-18 s). Recent breakthroughs in laser science are now opening the door to watching and controlling these hitherto inaccessible microscopic dynamics. The key to accessing the attosecond time domain is the control of the electric field of (visible) light, which varies its strength and direction within less than a femtosecond (1 femtosecond = 1000 attoseconds). Atoms exposed to a few oscillations cycles of intense laser light are able to emit a single extreme ultraviolet (XUV) burst lasting less than one femtosecond. Full control of the evolution of the electromagnetic field in laser pulses comprising a few wave cycles have recently allowed the reproducible generation and measurement of isolated sub-femtosecond XUV pulses, demonstrating the control of microscopic processes (electron motion and photon emission) on an attosecond time scale. These tools have enabled us to visualize the oscillating electric field of visible light with an attosecond "oscilloscope", to control single-electron and probe multi-electron dynamics in atoms, molecules and solids. Recent experiments hold promise for the development of an attosecond X-ray source, which may pave the way towards 4D electron imaging with sub-atomic resolution in space and time.

Attosecond Physics

Modern optical techniques allow one to accurately control light using atoms and to manipulate atoms using light. In this Colloquium the author reviews several ideas indicating how such techniques can be used for accurate manipulation of quantum states of atomic ensembles and photons. First a technique is discussed that allows one to transfer quantum states between light fields and metastable states of matter. The technique is based on trapping quantum states of photons in coherently driven atomic media, in which the group velocity is adiabatically reduced to zero. Next, possible mechanisms are outlined for manipulating quantum states of atomic ensembles. Specifically, a ``dipole blockade'' technique is considered in which optical excitation of mesoscopic samples into Rydberg states can be used to control the state of ensembles at the level of individual quanta. It is also noted that even simple processes involving atom-photon correlations can be used to effectively manipulate the ensemble states. Potentially these techniques can be used for implementation of important concepts from quantum information science.

/pdf/colloquium-trapping-and-manipulating-photon-states-in-atomic-9tz7xzo0f2.pdf

Colloquium: Trapping and manipulating photon states in atomic ensembles

The subject of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) is reviewed in this paper. Emphasis is placed on the experimental work reported in this field since 1990. Theoretical work is also covered, although it is not intended to review all the very numerous recent theoretical treatments on this topic. The basic physical ideas behind EIT are elucidated. The relation of EIT to other processes involving laser-induced atomic coherence, such as coherent population trapping, coherent adiabatic population transfer and lasing without inversion, is discussed. Experimental work is described covering the following topics: EIT with pulsed and continuous-wave sources, lasing without inversion, pulse propagation in a laser dressed medium and EIT in nonlinear optical processes. A full set of references and a bibliography are included.

Electromagnetically induced transparency

Parametric Raman sideband generation is investigated using strongly driven Raman coherence in solid hydrogen We show that the Raman coherence prepared with two coaxial single-mode lasers beats with multimode laser radiation with very broad bandwidth and efficiently replicates the broadband nature to the Raman sidebands without the restriction of phase matching We demonstrate that this efficient replication occurs mainly on the negative side of Raman detuning, where the medium adiabatically follows the antiphased state

Sideband generation using strongly driven raman coherence in solid hydrogen

We report that adiabatic manipulation of a Raman process allows us to produce an optical-frequency comb from single-frequency lasers. We realize an octave-spanning Raman comb with carrier-envelope-offset frequency control, by using dual-frequency laser radiation locked on a single laser cavity and simultaneously its second harmonic. It is shown that in both the temporal and spectral domains, locking the dual frequencies on a single laser cavity provides control of the carrier-envelope-offset frequency at integer multiples of the free spectral range of the laser cavity.

Octave-spanning Raman comb with carrier envelope offset control.

We show through the experiments of parametric anti-Stokes stimulated Raman scattering for solid hydrogen that the phase matching in a parametric process can be self-induced without the stringent restriction of the medium. We explain this self-induced phase matching as a consequence of strong coupling between radiation fields and medium spontaneously established through the stimulated Raman scattering process.

Self-Induced Phase Matching in Parametric Anti-Stokes Stimulated Raman Scattering

By exciting few-cycle femtosecond laser pulses at 397 nm in near-resonance with the direct bandgap of silicon, researchers experimentally demonstrate coherent phonon generation in silicon at a fundamental frequency of 15.6 THz and all-optical >100 THz frequency comb generation.

Masayuki Katsuragawa

Papers

Sideband generation using strongly driven raman coherence in solid hydrogen

Octave-spanning Raman comb with carrier envelope offset control.

Self-Induced Phase Matching in Parametric Anti-Stokes Stimulated Raman Scattering

Frequency comb generation at terahertz frequencies by coherent phonon excitation in silicon

Subfemtosecond pulse generation with molecular coherence control in stimulated Raman scattering