Propagation of an arbitrary elliptically polarized few-cycle ultrashort laser pulse in resonant two-level quantum systems

Journal Article · Sat Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2006 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.74.015802· OSTI ID:20852990

Xiaohong, Song; Ruxin, Li; Zhizhan, Xu ^[1]; Gong, Shangqing ^[2]

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1. State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics (China)
2. CCAST (World Laboratory), P.O. Box 8730, Beijing 100080 (China)

We investigate the propagation of an arbitrary elliptically polarized few-cycle ultrashort laser pulse in resonant two-level quantum systems using an iterative predictor-corrector finite-difference time-domain method. It is shown that when the initial effective area is equal to 2{pi}, the effective area will remain invariant during the course of propagation, and a complete Rabi oscillation can be achieved. However, for an elliptically polarized few-cycle ultrashort laser pulse, polarization conversion can occur. Eventually, the laser pulse will evolve into two separate circularly polarized laser pulses with opposite helicities.

• OSTI ID: 20852990
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Vol. 74, Issue 1; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.74.015802; (c) 2006 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1050-2947
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
CONVERSION
HELICITY
ITERATIVE METHODS
LASER RADIATION
NONLINEAR OPTICS
OSCILLATIONS
POLARIZATION
PULSES
VELOCITY
VISIBLE RADIATION