Saturation of an optical transition by a phase-diffusing laser field

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Phys. Rev. A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.36.178· OSTI ID:5914665

Hamilton, M W; Arnett, K; Smith, S J; Elliott, D S; Dziemballa, M; Zoller, P

The dependence of the optical Autler-Townes effect on laser field phase fluctuations describable by a two-dimensional Markovian process (phase-diffusion model with a non-Lorentzian line shape) is investigated experimentally in atomic sodium. An intense cw laser tuned to near resonance with the 3S/sub 1/2/(F = 2,M/sub F/ = 2)..-->..3P/sub 3/2/(F = 3,M/sub F/ = 3) transition was frequency modulated to generate phase fluctuations with the desired characteristics. A weak probe laser coupling to the 4D/sub 5/2/(F = 4, M/sub F/ = 4) state was used to obtain the double-peaked optical Autler-Townes absorption profiles in order to investigate their dependencies on band shape, bandwidth, intensity, and detuning of the intense fluctuating laser field. Reversals of the peak-height asymmetry and reversion to normal asymmetry with increased detuning were observed and measured. Quantitative studies of the spectral widths and splittings of the peaks are also reported. Measured absorption profiles are in excellent agreement with calculations based on previous theoretical work.

• Research Organization: Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics, University of Colorado and National Bureau of Standards, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0440
• OSTI ID: 5914665
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. A; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. A; (United States) Vol. 36:1; ISSN PLRAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
ABSORPTION SPECTRA
ALKALI METALS
BEAM DYNAMICS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
FLUCTUATIONS
FREQUENCY MODULATION
LASERS
METALS
MODULATION
OPTICAL PUMPING
OSCILLATIONS
PHASE OSCILLATIONS
PUMPING
SATURATION
SODIUM
SPECTRA
STARK EFFECT
VARIATIONS