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

Small-Area Pulse Propagation on the Picosecond Time Scale

H. Hartmann, A. Laubereau

Published Jun 18, 1984• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

Coherent propagation of ultrashort pulses in the infrared is investigated theoretically and experimentally for the limiting case of small pulse amplitudes and homogeneous line broadening. Drastic changes of the shape of resonant pulses occur depending on several parameters, e.g., input pulse duration tp, molecular dephasing time T2, and absorption length αl.1,2

Related papers

Coherent pulse propagation as a probe for wave packet dynamics

Carsten Weiss, Jochen Arlt, G. Torosyan +1 more

Summary form only given. A small-area femtosecond pulse propagates in a dispersive medium in a coherent fashion, if the relaxation times of the medium are compared with the pulse length for a long time. As a result, the pulse will be reshaped. This has been described by linear dispersion theory. Using Rydberg states of a molecular or an atomic gas as dispersive medium, the large spectral width of the femtosecond pulse can overlap with more than one level simultaneously. In this case, the shape of the propagated pulse reflects the temporal evolution of the Rydberg wave packet formed by the resonant Rydberg states.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Nov 27, 2002•0 citations

Small-area ultrashort pulse propagation through a three-level medium

M. H. Hovhannisyan

Propagation of an ultrashort, small-area (circularly polarized) pulse through a gas medium of three-level atoms near one-photon resonance is studied. The expression for the propagating pulse shape is obtained within the rotating wave and dipole approximations. Results are compared, both analytically and numerically, with those for two-level model. Sinusoidal and Gaussian shapes of input pulses are compared, and a high sensitivity of modulation of the light pulse for envelope to its input shape is revealed.

Journal of Contemporary Physics (Armenian Academy of Sciences)•Aug 29, 2013•0 citations

Coherent absorption in a homogeneously broadened medium

Lee E. Estes, D. Eteson, Lorenzo M. Narducci

An investigation of the propagation properties of a short pulse in a resonant absorber with a homogeneously broadened transition is presented with two main questions in mind: 1) the influence of the input pulse area on the transitory regime and on the steady-state propagation; 2) the effects of atomic coherence on the pulse shaping and the time delay of the leading edge of the pulse. The transitory regime of a propagating pulse is investigated and the stability of some asymptotic wave form confirmed. As expected, the transversal relaxation mechanism affects critically the major features of the coherent interaction. A detailed analysis of this problem is also presented.

IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics•Sep 1, 1970•8 citations

Reduction in the duration of small-area pulses during coherent propagation across an absorber

O. P. Varnavskiǐ, Valerie V. Golovlev, A. N. Kirkin +2 more

A study was made of coherent propagation of small-area pulses across a resonant absorber. At least five-fold reduction in the duration of subnanosecond pulses with a steep leading edge (τe ≲ 20 psec) was observed as a result of passage through a ruby rod cooled to 100 K. This reduction in the duration was due to the finite time needed to establish absorption. The experimental results were in agreement with a numerical solution of a system of Maxwell-Bloch equations describing the interaction of a field of a pulse with a resonant medium.

Soviet Journal of Quantum Electronics•Jul 31, 1986•0 citations

Propagation of Small-Area Pulses of Coherent Light through a Resonant Medium

Michael D. Crisp

This article presents a study of the propagation of small-area pulses of coherent light through matter. It is found that the small-area pulses exactly obey an area theorem which, in the case of an attenuating medium, requires that the pulse area decay to zero exponentially with increasing distance of propagation. This, however, does not necessarily imply that the pulse energy decays exponentially. Instead, it is found that pulses of duration comparable to or shorter than the transverse relaxation time of the medium ${T}_{2}$ (including both homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening) propagate with low energy loss. The results are explained in terms of simple physical arguments which indicate that the pulse envelope should oscillate between positive and negative values, causing the area to decrease without a comparable decrease in the pulse energy. Analytic solutions are presented for the case of a pulse whose envelope varies as ${t}^{k}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}t}$ for $tg0$, a rectangular pulse, an ultrashort pulse (i.e., pulse width much less than ${T}_{2}$), and the leading portion of a step-function pulse. The propagation of a small-area Gaussian pulse is studied numerically.

Physical Review A•Nov 1, 1970•85 citations

Analytical Descriptions of Ultrashort Optical Pulse Propagation in a Resonant Medium

George L. Lamb

A unified survey is presented of various theoretical approaches that have been developed to account for the novel propagation effects which may take place when extremely short pulses of coherent light interact with matter.

Reviews of Modern Physics•Apr 1, 1971•945 citations
Coherent propagation of ultrashort pulses in the infrared is investigated theoretically and experimentally for the limiting case of small pulse amplitudes and homogeneous line broadening. Drastic changes of the shape of resonant pulses occur depending on several parameters, e.g., input pulse duration tp, molecular dephasing time T2, and absorption length αl.1,2
Summary form only given. A small-area femtosecond pulse propagates in a dispersive medium in a coherent fashion, if the relaxation times of the medium are compared with the pulse length for a long time. As a result, the pulse will be reshaped. This has been described by linear dispersion theory. Using Rydberg states of a molecular or an atomic gas as dispersive medium, the large spectral width of the femtosecond pulse can overlap with more than one level simultaneously. In this case, the shape of the propagated pulse reflects the temporal evolution of the Rydberg wave packet formed by the resonant Rydberg states.
Propagation of an ultrashort, small-area (circularly polarized) pulse through a gas medium of three-level atoms near one-photon resonance is studied. The expression for the propagating pulse shape is obtained within the rotating wave and dipole approximations. Results are compared, both analytically and numerically, with those for two-level model. Sinusoidal and Gaussian shapes of input pulses are compared, and a high sensitivity of modulation of the light pulse for envelope to its input shape is revealed.
An investigation of the propagation properties of a short pulse in a resonant absorber with a homogeneously broadened transition is presented with two main questions in mind: 1) the influence of the input pulse area on the transitory regime and on the steady-state propagation; 2) the effects of atomic coherence on the pulse shaping and the time delay of the leading edge of the pulse. The transitory regime of a propagating pulse is investigated and the stability of some asymptotic wave form confirmed. As expected, the transversal relaxation mechanism affects critically the major features of the coherent interaction. A detailed analysis of this problem is also presented.
A study was made of coherent propagation of small-area pulses across a resonant absorber. At least five-fold reduction in the duration of subnanosecond pulses with a steep leading edge (τe ≲ 20 psec) was observed as a result of passage through a ruby rod cooled to 100 K. This reduction in the duration was due to the finite time needed to establish absorption. The experimental results were in agreement with a numerical solution of a system of Maxwell-Bloch equations describing the interaction of a field of a pulse with a resonant medium.
This article presents a study of the propagation of small-area pulses of coherent light through matter. It is found that the small-area pulses exactly obey an area theorem which, in the case of an attenuating medium, requires that the pulse area decay to zero exponentially with increasing distance of propagation. This, however, does not necessarily imply that the pulse energy decays exponentially. Instead, it is found that pulses of duration comparable to or shorter than the transverse relaxation time of the medium T2{T}_{2}T2​ (including both homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening) propagate with low energy loss. The results are explained in terms of simple physical arguments which indicate that the pulse envelope should oscillate between positive and negative values, causing the area to decrease without a comparable decrease in the pulse energy. Analytic solutions are presented for the case of a pulse whose envelope varies as ${t}^{k}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}t}$ for tg0tg0tg0, a rectangular pulse, an ultrashort pulse (i.e., pulse width much less than T2{T}_{2}T2​), and the leading portion of a step-function pulse. The propagation of a small-area Gaussian pulse is studied numerically.