Optical nonreciprocity is of paramount importance to optical signal processing and one-way optical communication. Here, we theoretically and experimentally demonstrate nonreciprocal amplification based on four-level hot atoms by exploiting atomic Doppler shifts. Our approach is simple and easy to implement. In fair agreement with our theoretical modeling, forward power amplification of 26 dB and backward isolation of 30 dB are observed. Our results will open up a new avenue towards realistic devices based on nonreciprocal amplification.

We propose a scheme for obtaining an electromagnetically induced grating in an asymmetric semiconductor quantum well (QW) structure via Fano interference. In our structure, owing to Fano interference, the diffraction intensity of the grating, especially the first-order diffraction, can be significantly enhanced. The diffraction efficiency of the grating can be controlled efficiently by tuning the control field intensity, the interaction length, the coupling strength of tunneling, etc. This investigation may be used to develop novel photonic devices in semiconductor QW systems.

By using three mutually perpendicular standing-wave fields, we propose a scheme for three-dimensional (3D) subwavelength atom localization in a five-level M-type atomic system. Based on the electromagnetically induced transparency, position probability distribution of the atom in 3D space could be determined via measuring the probe absorption which is proportional to the filter function. It is shown that patterns of 3D atom localization depends sensitively on the coupling schemes of the standing-wave fields. When the standing-wave fields couple three different transitions, the same atom localization patterns are formed in the eight subspaces of the 3D space. While all the standing-wave fields are applied on one transition, we can realize different atom localization patterns in the eight subspaces. From the view of the xy plane, various symmetric or asymmetric atom localization patterns could be formed at different z positions by adjusting the parameters of the laser fields.

Photon blockade is an important quantum nonlinear phenomenon in cavity optomechanics. Here, we investigate the two-photon blockade effect by exploiting the mechanical squeezing. This squeezing can enhance the optomechanical-coupling strength into the single-photon strong-coupling regime. With strong coupling, we find the photon blockade effects can be generated and enhanced, and the region where the two-photon blockade occurs can be widened. Finally, we study the transition between photon-induced tunneling and blockade.

Nickel-based metal–organic frameworks (Ni-MOFs) have attracted increasing attention in non-enzymatic glucose sensing. However, the insufficient active Ni cation sites from a stacked MOF layer, the unclear Ni catalysis mechanism, and the severe liquid alkaline electrolyte remain challenging for practical applications. In this work, the sonication-induced longitudinal-expansion of Ni-MOFs increases the active nickel ion sites, which not only enhances the current response to glucose detection, but also shows the oxidation peak evolution of nickel ions with different sonication times, revealing the mechanism of different glucose detection channels. The Ni-MOF sonicated for 60 min (60 min Ni-MOF) displays enhanced Ni(III)/Ni(II) and more significant Ni(IV)/Ni(III) double nickel cation channels for catalyzing glucose into glucolactone compared to the 0 min Ni-MOF (without sonication), showing optimized glucose detection ability with a high sensitivity of 3297.10 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻², a low detection limit of ∼8.97 μM (signal-to-noise = 3) and a wide linear response range from 10 to 400 μM from the cyclic voltammetry test as well as a high sensitivity of 3.03 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻², a low detection limit of ∼1.16 μM (signal-to-noise = 3) and a wide linear response range from 10 to 2000 μM from the chronoamperometry test. More importantly, an all-solid-state glucose biosensor using a PVA/NaOH solid-state electrolyte and a disposable 60 min Ni-MOF working electrode is assembled for non-enzymatic sweat glucose detection.

Quantum controlled-phase-flip (CPF) gate between a flying photon qubit and a stationary atomic qubit could allow the linking of distant computational nodes in a quantum network. Here we present a scheme to realize quantum CPF gate between a flying optical photon and an atomic ensemble based on cavity input-output process and Rydberg blockade. When a flying single-photon pulse is reflected off the cavity containing a Rydberg atomic ensemble, the dark resonance and Rydberg blockade induce a conditional phase shift "Equation missing"<!-- image only, no MathML or LaTex --> for the photon pulse, thus we can achieve the CPF gate between the photon and the atomic ensemble. Assisted by Rydberg blockade interaction, our scheme works in the N-atoms strong-coupling regime and significantly relaxes the requirement of strong coupling of single atom to photon in the optical cavity.