Theoretical models of laser-induced processes

Ouafae El Akramine, A. Makhoute

We present a theoretical study of strong laser-atom interactions, when the laser field parameters are subjected to random processes. The atom is modelled by a two-level and three-level systems, while the statistical fluctuations of the laser field are described by a pre-Gaussian model.

William R. Green

Jiaqi Yang, Liu Jia-Dong, Liu Tao +1 more

Light-induced drift has many applications in astrophysics, semiconductor physics, and isotope separation. Light-induced drift velocity is a key parameter to characterize the effect of light-induced drift. Laser linewidth exerts a great influence on light-induced drift velocity through influencing the velocity selectivity of atomic excitation, so it is an important factor that cannot be ignored in the study of light-induced drift. However, in existing theoretical studies, the influence of laser linewidth is seldom considered and the exciting light is always treated as monochromatic light. Furthermore, in a few theoretical studies about laser linewidth, the numerical model adopted does not include all the factors of light-induced drift, such as energy level degeneracy, hyperfine structure, and collision model, which will cause the error of calculation. In order to study the influence of laser linewidth on light-induced drift velocity, a four-level rate equation model is established to describe the atomic energy level transition in the process of light-induced drift. In the theoretical model, we introduce strong collision model to describe collisions between atoms and buffer gas. The influences of energy level degeneracy and hyperfine structure are also taken into account. Numerical method is used to calculate the four-level rate equation. According to the calculation results, the influence of laser linewidth on drift velocity of alkali metal atoms is analyzed. The results show that as the linewidth increases, the value of drift velocity first increases and then decreases. There is an optimal linewidth that maximizes the drift velocity. For the best light-induced drift effect, the laser should work under the optimal linewidth condition. When the laser linewidth fluctuates near the optimum linewidth, the laser linewidth should be set to be slightly wider than the optimal linewidth. This can reduce the influence of fluctuation and obtain a better drift effect. In addition, as the laser linewidth increases, the optimum power density corresponding to the maximum drift velocity decreases. When the laser linewidth is narrow, small fluctuations near the optimal laser power density will not have great influence on drift velocity. When the laser linewidth is wide, the power density should be set strictly. The optimum linewidth is related to laser power density, temperature and buffer gas pressure. As the laser power density increases, the value of optimum linewidth first increases rapidly and then decreases slowly. The value of optimal linewidth also increases linearly with the increase of temperature, and it decreases with the increase of buffer gas pressure. In conclusion, the laser linewidth does play a key role in the process of light-induced drift. The results of this study can provide a theoretical basis for future experiments, and be a good reference to the selection of exciting light.

C. J. Joachain

Jean Gagné, Karine Le Bris, Marie-Claude Gagné

We characterize, for the first time to our knowledge, the laser-induced backward fluorescence (retrofluorescence) spectra that result from energy-pooling collisions between Cs atoms near a dissipative thin Cs layer on a glass substrate. We resolve, experimentally and theoretically, the laser spectroscopic problem of energy-pooling processes related to the nature of the glass–metallic vapor interface. Our study focused on the integrated laser-induced retrofluorescence spectra for the 455.5-nm (72P3/2–62S1/2) and 852.2-nm (62P3/2–62S1/2) lines as a function of laser scanning through pumping resonance at the 852.2-nm line. We experimentally investigate the retrofluorescence from 420 to 930 nm, induced by a diode laser tuned either in the wings or in the center of the pumping resonance line. We present a detailed theoretical model of the retrofluorescence signal based on the radiative transfer equation, taking into account the evanescent wave of the excited atomic dipole strongly coupled with a dissipative surface. Based on theoretical and experimental results, we evaluate the effective nonradiative transfer rate A¯62P3/2→62S1/2sf for atoms in the excited 62P3/2 level located in the near-field region of the surface of the cell. Values extracted from the energy-pooling process analysis are equivalent to those found directly from the 852.2-nm resonance retrofluorescence line. We show that the effective energy-pooling coefficients k˜72P3/2 and k˜72P1/2 are approximately equal. The agreement between theory and experiment is remarkably good, considering the simplicity of the model.