Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference

Intracavity characterization of a three-level system in atomic samarium

Scott A. Diddams, Briggs W. Atherton, J.-C. Diels

Published Jun 7, 1996• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

Summary form only given. The fact that the two counterpropagating pulses in a modelocked dye ring laser can be completely decoupled in frequency makes such a laser a sensitive probe of phase differences between the counterpropagating pulses. The difference in center frequency between the two counterpropagating pulses can be resolved down to the noise limit of 100 Hz. This limit corresponds to a phase difference between the counterpropagating pulses of 10/sup -6/ or an effective cavity length difference of 10/sup -12/ m. When combined with fluorescence measurements and the intensities of the counterpropagating fields, the steady-state elements of the density matrix describing the intracavity system can be inferred.

Related papers

Differential intracavity phase spectroscopy and its application to a three-level system in samarium

Scott A. Diddams, Jean‐Claude Diels, Briggs W. Atherton

A technique of differential intracavity phase spectroscopy is introduced. The measured beat frequency between the two counterpropagating fields in a ring laser directly yields the differential phase shift due to the presence of an atomic vapor. In an unstabilized laser cavity, phase differences near ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$ are measured. This technique is used to study the nonlinear dispersion associated with a three-level $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ system in atomic samarium. Sub-Doppler resonances and population trapping are observed, both of which are attributed to the coherences between the two lower levels of the $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ level structure. Solutions of the density matrix describing the system are also presented, and good qualitative agreement is found between the calculations and the measurements.

Physical Review A•Sep 1, 1998•34 citations

Sagnac spectroscopy

Jean‐Claude Diels, Scott A. Diddams

In a passively mode-locked femtosecond ring dye laser the two counterpropagating pulses have a relative frequency difference Av that can be adjusted from a few hertz to megahertz by rotation of the cavity. These opposing pairs of pulses can thus be used to establish coherence between sublevels of a A transition in a resonant vapor. Sagnac spectroscopy is the distortion of the (previously linear) Sagnac response of the laser when such an atomic vapor (Sm) is inserted in the cavity. Even though the bandwidth of this unstabilized laser is of the order of 1013 Hz, spectroscopic measurements can be performed with 10 Hz accuracy. Applications include magnetic field measurement, lasing without inversion, and giant index of refraction.

Annual Meeting Optical Society of America•Jan 1, 1992•0 citations

Phase-modulation laser spectroscopy

Axel Schenzle, Ralph G. DeVoe, Richard G. Brewer

A novel phase-modulation technique which permits subkilohertz-laser stability and new levels of precision in laser spectroscopy was reported recently. For spectroscopy, the basic arrangement consists of a combination of an optical pump and a probe field which is phase modulated. The pump prepares the atomic sample by burning a narrow hole within the atom's inhomogeneous line shape, and the probe beam samples the prepared hole when its modulation sidebands are swept into resonance. Off resonance, the probe is balanced as pairs of sidebands produce heterodyne beat signals of opposite phase which just cancel. On resonance, the balance is upset and yields a nonvanishing beat signal with a Lorentzian absorption or dispersion line shape and with residual noise approaching the shot noise limit. Here we investigate the theory of phase-modulation spectroscopy. We treat the nonlinear response of an atomic two-level quantum system subject to an intense pump and a weak copropagating or counterpropagating phase-modulated probe beam. The density-matrix equations of motion are solved by a Laplace-transform method and by the novel use of a translation operator which allows the infinite hierarchy of coupled equations to close. A solution equivalent to the rate-equation result is developed and coherence corrections are found which predict new resonances that have just been detected in this laboratory. The delayed pump-probe technique encountered in solid-state laser spectroscopy is analyzed in this context for two- and three-level quantum systems. The response of a Fabry-Perot cavity to a phase-modulated light wave is examined also and reveals an unexpected absorption feature.

Physical Review A•May 1, 1982•88 citations

Quantum mechanical description of the dynamics of a laser with two-pulse/cavity round-trip

Andreas Schmitt-Sody, Ladan Arissian, Andreas U. Velten +1 more

The density matrix of a two-level system interacting with a near resonant field, corresponds to the circulating intensities (diagonal elements) and the beat signal of the interfering outputs (off-diagonal element) of a ring laser.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•May 1, 2008•0 citations

Quantum manipulation and measurement of single atoms in optical cavity QED

Jun Ye, Christina J. Hood, T. W. Lynn +3 more

Using laser-cooled atoms strongly coupled to a high finesse optical cavity, we have performed real-time continuous measurements of single atomic trajectories in terms of the interaction energy (E/sub int/) with the cavity. Individual transit events reveal a shot-noise limited measurement (fractional) sensitivity of 4/spl times/10/sup -4///spl radic/Hz to variations in E/sub int///spl planck/ within a bandwidth of 1300 kHz. The strong coupling of atom and cavity leads to a maximum interaction energy greater than the kinetic energy of an intracavity laser-cooled atom, even under weak cavity excitation. Evidence of mechanical light forces for intracavity photon number <1 has been observed. The quantum character of the nonlinear optical response of the atom-cavity system is manifested for the trajectory of a single atom.

IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement•Apr 1, 1999•16 citations

Accurate determination of the phase space evolution of a laser-cooled atomic beam

Martin Ligare, R. B. Siegel, Michael S. Lubell +2 more

A laser-cooled atomic beam apparatus employing a frequency modulated ring dye laser has been developed which permits continuous monitoring of the fluorescence at any point along the beam. The laser frequency is modulated by the counterrotation of two intracavity glass plates mounted on scanning galvo drivers. Hermetically sealed photodiode assemblies have been mounted inside the vacuum system along the length of the atomic beam in a 1.6-m section of uniform magnetic field.

Journal of the Optical Society of America B•Feb 1, 1987•0 citations
Summary form only given. The fact that the two counterpropagating pulses in a modelocked dye ring laser can be completely decoupled in frequency makes such a laser a sensitive probe of phase differences between the counterpropagating pulses. The difference in center frequency between the two counterpropagating pulses can be resolved down to the noise limit of 100 Hz. This limit corresponds to a phase difference between the counterpropagating pulses of 10/sup -6/ or an effective cavity length difference of 10/sup -12/ m. When combined with fluorescence measurements and the intensities of the counterpropagating fields, the steady-state elements of the density matrix describing the intracavity system can be inferred.
A technique of differential intracavity phase spectroscopy is introduced. The measured beat frequency between the two counterpropagating fields in a ring laser directly yields the differential phase shift due to the presence of an atomic vapor. In an unstabilized laser cavity, phase differences near ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$ are measured. This technique is used to study the nonlinear dispersion associated with a three-level $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ system in atomic samarium. Sub-Doppler resonances and population trapping are observed, both of which are attributed to the coherences between the two lower levels of the $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ level structure. Solutions of the density matrix describing the system are also presented, and good qualitative agreement is found between the calculations and the measurements.
In a passively mode-locked femtosecond ring dye laser the two counterpropagating pulses have a relative frequency difference Av that can be adjusted from a few hertz to megahertz by rotation of the cavity. These opposing pairs of pulses can thus be used to establish coherence between sublevels of a A transition in a resonant vapor. Sagnac spectroscopy is the distortion of the (previously linear) Sagnac response of the laser when such an atomic vapor (Sm) is inserted in the cavity. Even though the bandwidth of this unstabilized laser is of the order of 1013 Hz, spectroscopic measurements can be performed with 10 Hz accuracy. Applications include magnetic field measurement, lasing without inversion, and giant index of refraction.
A novel phase-modulation technique which permits subkilohertz-laser stability and new levels of precision in laser spectroscopy was reported recently. For spectroscopy, the basic arrangement consists of a combination of an optical pump and a probe field which is phase modulated. The pump prepares the atomic sample by burning a narrow hole within the atom's inhomogeneous line shape, and the probe beam samples the prepared hole when its modulation sidebands are swept into resonance. Off resonance, the probe is balanced as pairs of sidebands produce heterodyne beat signals of opposite phase which just cancel. On resonance, the balance is upset and yields a nonvanishing beat signal with a Lorentzian absorption or dispersion line shape and with residual noise approaching the shot noise limit. Here we investigate the theory of phase-modulation spectroscopy. We treat the nonlinear response of an atomic two-level quantum system subject to an intense pump and a weak copropagating or counterpropagating phase-modulated probe beam. The density-matrix equations of motion are solved by a Laplace-transform method and by the novel use of a translation operator which allows the infinite hierarchy of coupled equations to close. A solution equivalent to the rate-equation result is developed and coherence corrections are found which predict new resonances that have just been detected in this laboratory. The delayed pump-probe technique encountered in solid-state laser spectroscopy is analyzed in this context for two- and three-level quantum systems. The response of a Fabry-Perot cavity to a phase-modulated light wave is examined also and reveals an unexpected absorption feature.
Using laser-cooled atoms strongly coupled to a high finesse optical cavity, we have performed real-time continuous measurements of single atomic trajectories in terms of the interaction energy (E/sub int/) with the cavity. Individual transit events reveal a shot-noise limited measurement (fractional) sensitivity of 4/spl times/10/sup -4///spl radic/Hz to variations in E/sub int///spl planck/ within a bandwidth of 1300 kHz. The strong coupling of atom and cavity leads to a maximum interaction energy greater than the kinetic energy of an intracavity laser-cooled atom, even under weak cavity excitation. Evidence of mechanical light forces for intracavity photon number <1 has been observed. The quantum character of the nonlinear optical response of the atom-cavity system is manifested for the trajectory of a single atom.