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Igor Mekhov

Team Leader Fellow (EPSRC CAF)

I have recently joined the University of Oxford (sub-department of Atomic and Laser Physics) and this web-page will be updated.

Please, see the "Research" tab here and visit the Research Group web-page for further details.

PhD position in my group is currently available!

Please, see the position details at the tab "Positions available" in this page, and the project description here

The general description of research at the sub-department of Atomic and Laser Physics can be found here

Quantum optics of ultracold quantum gases

A new REVIEW PAPER is available at arXiv:1203.0552

My current research is focused on theoretical quantum optics of ultracold degenerate gases, where the quantum natures of both light and matter play key roles. Joining the paradigms of two fields of modern physics, cavity QED and ultracold quantum gases, will enable conceptually new investigations of the light-matter interaction at the ultimate quantum level.

Recently, we have proposed theoretical models for such phenomena, which can be tested experimentally in the nearest future. (Nature Phys. 2007, Phys. Rev. Lett. 2007, 2009, 2011, etc.)

This research includes the following areas
- quantum optics, e.g., cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED),
- Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC),
- ultracold gases in optical lattices,
- laser cooling,
- condensed matter physics of strongly correlated systems,
- nanophotonics,
- etc.

- We have formulated the quantum non-demolition (QND) measurement schemes to observe the properties of many-body atomic states detecting scattered light. Different many-body characteristics beyond the density-density correlations can be obtained by quantum optical methods. (Nature Physics (2007), Phys. Rev. Lett. (2007), Phys. Rev. A (2007), Laser Physics (2009))

- Those methods have been recently applied to ultracold polar molecules. (Phys. Rev. Lett. (2011), Phys. Rev. A (2011), arXiv (2011))

- We suggested to use the entanglement between the light and motion of ultracold atoms to prepare the nonclassical many-body states exploiting the quantum nature of the measurement process (measurement back-action). The preparation of number squeezed and Schrödinger cat states was demonstrated. (Phys. Rev. Lett. (2009), Phys. Rev. A (2009), Laser Physics (2010), Laser Phys. (2011))

- We developed a model to describe the ultracold atoms trapped in a fully quantum potential (“quantum optical lattices”), merging cavity QED and physics of ultracold gases. For example, the generalized Bose-Hubbard model taking into account the light quantization was formulated. (Eur. Phys. Journal D (2008), Phys. Rev. A (2007))

Please, see the Research Group web-page for further details.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS (cf. CV for the full list)

Optically dense media, polaritons, strong light-matter coupling, superradiance

I am interested in the study of optically dense resonant media. Especially, in the regime of strong light-matter coupling both in a cavity and free space. Such phenomena can be understood in terms of polaritons and collective superradiance.

I am interested in the realizations in both atomic and solid-state (semiconductor nanostructures with quantum wells and quantum dots) media.

We have proposed a novel type of collective parametric processes, which cannot be explained by any single-atom model:

- We demonstrated the light amplification in the strong coupling regime in a cavity. (Quantum Information Processing (2006), Laser Physics (2005))

- Moreover, the parametric amplification of polaritons and solitons in free space without use of any cavity has been proved. (Phys. Rev. A (2004), Phys. Rev. A (2003), Laser Physics (2005), Quantum Information Processing (2006))

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS (cf. CV for the full list)

  • "Strong light-matter coupling: coherent parametric interactions in a cavity and free-space", V.S. Egorov, V.N. Lebedev, I.B. Mekhov, P.V. Moroshkin, I.A. Chekhonin, and S.N. Bagayev, "Quantum Information Processing – From Theory to Experiment", v. 199, p. 341, IOS Press (Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2006);
  • "Coherent light sources under strong field–matter coupling in an optically dense resonant medium without population inversion", S.N. Bagayev, V.V. Vasil’ev, V.S. Egorov, V.N. Lebedev, I. B. Mekhov, P. V. Moroshkin, A. N. Fedorov, and I. A. Chekhonin, Laser Physics, 15, 975 (2005);
  • "Coherent interaction of laser pulses in a resonant optically dense extended medium under the regime of strong field-matter coupling", V.S. Egorov, V.N. Lebedev, I.B. Mekhov, P.V. Moroshkin, I.A. Chekhonin, and S.N. Bagayev, Phys. Rev. A 69, 033804 (2004);
  • "Resonant nonstationary amplification of polychromatic laser pulses and conical emission in an optically dense ensemble of neon metastable atoms", S.N. Bagayev, V.S. Egorov, I.B. Mekhov, P.V. Moroshkin, I.A. Chekhonin, E.M. Davliatchine, and E. Kindel, Phys. Rev. A 68, 043812 (2003);
  • "Nonstationary parametric amplification of polychromatic radiation propagating in an extended absorbing resonant medium", S.N. Bagaev, V.S. Egorov, I.B. Mekhov, P.V. Moroshkin, I.A. Chekhonin, E. M. Davliatchine, and E. Kindel, Opt. Spectrosc. 94, 92 (2003);
  • "Parametric collective phenomena during the propagation of polychromatic laser pulses in an optically dense resonant medium without population inversion", S.N. Bagaev, V.S. Egorov, I.B. Mekhov, P.V. Moroshkin, I.A. Chekhonin, Opt. Spectrosc. 93, 955 (2002);

Other interests

I have also studied different aspects of nonlinear dynamics and statistical physics:

- solitons,
- parametric interactions,
- light squeezing,
- semiconductor lasers with quantum wells (VCSELs),
- plasma physics (kinetics of particles at ultralow (Phys. Rev. E (1999)) and extremely high (ISPC-14 (1999), Hakone VII (2000)) pressures).

A new PhD position in Theoretical Quantum Optics of Ultracold Quantum Gases and Nanostructures is available at the University of Oxford, Department of Physics.

The project’s main target is merging quantum optics and many-body physics of quantum gases, using theoretical methods of atomic and condensed matter physics. We will address phenomena, where the quantum natures of both light and ultracold matter play equally important roles. Modern theoretical and experimental studies are just entering this ultimate quantum regime of the light-matter interaction. Applications for quasiparticles in the systems of quantum nanophotonics are of interest as well. For more information, please, see www2.physics.ox.ac.uk/contacts/people/Mekhov

The candidates with expertise in either Atomic, Molecular and Optical or Condensed Matter Physics are welcomed to apply. The position is fully funded for EU-related students. Other candidates may apply but are required to provide funding to cover additional fees.

To express the intention to apply, and for informal inquiries about the project and application procedure, please, contact the project leader Dr. Igor Mekhov ( www2.physics.ox.ac.uk/contacts/people/Mekhov ). The admission will be closed soon. Please, apply asap.

The application should be submitted online. Please see http://www2.physics.ox.ac.uk/study-here/postgraduates/atomic-and-laser-p... for information on the requirements on academic ability and English Language skills. For information on How to Apply and an application form, please see well in advance http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/postgraduate_courses/apply/index.html A PDF copy of your application for Graduate Admissions should also be sent to The Administrative Secretary, Atomic and Laser Physics, Department of Physics, Clarendon Laboratory, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PU, or by email to alp [at] physics [dot] ox [dot] ac [dot] uk. Please quote 11ATOM002 on your application and all correspondence.

The general description of research at the sub-department of Atomic and Laser Physics can be found here

View my research group