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  • Open Access

Nonlinear quantum transduction of weak topological impurities

Jiahao Duan1, Maomao Gong1,*, Yongjun Cheng1, and Song Bin Zhang1,2,†

  • *Contact author: gongmm@snnu.edu.cn
  • †Contact author: song-bin.zhang@snnu.edu.cn
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APS Open Sci. 1, 000157 – Published 1 October, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/8tqj-y91q

Abstract

Detecting weak field perturbations at an optical-vortex node is a fundamental challenge across wave physics, as the local signal contrast typically scales quadratically with the impurity amplitude when no reference field is used. Here, we propose a complementary, spatially resolved diagnostic that exploits the strongly nonlinear response of an electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) medium to transduce weak topological impurities into probe transmission. Using a vortex beam with a weak coherent admixture as a concrete realization, we show theoretically that EIT coherence converts the weak field that lifts the nominal vortex node into a highly sensitive, macroscopic transmission contrast. A resonant weak-probe model with representative cold-Rb87 parameters predicts a per-exposure detection floor for the impurity amplitude at the level of a few ×10−3, relative to a separately characterized, preaveraged pure-vortex reference. We quantify the intrinsic and experimental limits of this response, analyzing its dependence on coupling strength, ground-state decoherence, optical depth, two-photon detuning, and Maxwell-Boltzmann thermal motion. While not a complete, basis-independent measurement of modal purity, this method provides a calibrated, local all-optical diagnostic for weak coherent field admixtures at a known vortex node.

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APS Open Sci. 1, 000157– Published 1 October, 2026
Vol. 1
  • Received 7 June 2026
  • Revised 7 September 2026
  • Accepted 22 September 2026
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