Phase-controlled switching between incoherent optical images in a double-Λ system

Abstract

The coherent control of optical images has garnered attention because the range of information embedded in optical images is expected to be controlled in high efficiency. Recently, the storage of optical images using coherent control techniques opened a method for multiple information storage. Image control in coherent medium might move up new era of quantum information technology since the generation of entangled image pairs was realized with parametric process in coherent medium. One of the most important optical controls is switch for information distribution. Here, phase-controlled optical image switching with low light intensity was demonstrated in a double-Λ system. Switching by interference in a double-Λ system was observed as having a 90 % switching depth between incoherent image pixels. Two independent laser sources were adopted for a double-Λ system such that images inscribed in two weak probe lights were incoherent with each other.