Exploring the interaction between bloch surface waves and atomic hot vapor: a theoretical perspective

Abstract

The miniaturization of atom-light interaction platforms is crucial for advancing modern optical technologies, enabling significant improvements in sensing, communication, and quantum information processing. In this paper, we present a theoretical investigation into the coupling of Bloch surface waves (BSWs) at the resonance angle of 69° in a one-dimensional 24-layered photonic crystals with atomic hot vapor with a focus on atomic structures. These surface waves are known for their strong field confinement and high sensitivity to environmental changes which offer a promising avenue for enhancing light-matter interactions at reduced scales. Our findings highlight the potential of Bloch surface waves to enhance and control the localized density of states (LDOS), thereby improving the resolution of atomic transition lines. Notably, our simulations demonstrate that BSWs achieve superior resolution compared to plasmonic modes, enabling the distinct resolution of all eight hyperfine states of natural rubidium vapor (four for ⁸⁵Rb and four for ⁸⁷Rb D₁ line). This study underscores the importance of integrating Bloch surface waves with atomic hot vapor for developing next-generation miniaturized optical devices, which can lead to breakthroughs in precision metrology, high-resolution spectroscopy, and quantum technologies.