Magnetic field control over microscopic symmetry properties of an optical pattern-forming system: experiment

Citation
A. Aumann et al., Magnetic field control over microscopic symmetry properties of an optical pattern-forming system: experiment, J OPT B-QUA, 2(3), 2000, pp. 421-425
Citations number
28
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Apllied Physucs/Condensed Matter/Materiales Science
Journal title
JOURNAL OF OPTICS B-QUANTUM AND SEMICLASSICAL OPTICS
ISSN journal
1464-4266 → ACNP
Volume
2
Issue
3
Year of publication
2000
Pages
421 - 425
Database
ISI
SICI code
1464-4266(200006)2:3<421:MFCOMS>2.0.ZU;2-F
Abstract
We study the selection between hexagonal and square polarization patterns i n a sodium vapour cell with optical feedback provided by a single mirror. S canning an external magnetic field, a transition sequence from squares via negative hexagons, squares, and positive hexagons again to squares is obser ved close to the instability onset. Well above threshold the hexagons give way to squares in a secondary bifurcation. These observations demonstrate h ow the macroscopic symmetries of optical patterns can be controlled by mani pulating the microscopic symmetries of the light-matter interaction. The ke y to this control is the vectorial degrees of freedom of the optical patter n-forming system.