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

Japanese Journal of Applied Physics

Fifth-, Seventh- and Ninth-Order Calculations of the Lamb Dip in Lasers and Saturated Absorption

Kōichi Shimoda, Kiyoji Uehara

Published Apr 1, 1971• 13 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The semi-classical theory of a single-mode gas laser has been extended to include higher-order terms by a simpler method than previous ones. The present theory takes not only the lifetimes of the two states but also the effect of phase-perturbing collisions into consideration by using three phenomenological decay constants in the two-level system. Explicit expressions in the general case of nonlinear susceptibility of the laser medium or the saturable absorber are presented for the fifth and seventh orders, while the ninth-order expression is shown for a special case of a very long longitudinal relaxation time.

DOI
10.1143/jjap.10.460

Related papers

Exact Solutions in the Semi-Classical Theory of a Gas Laser for Two Special Cases

Kiyoji Uehara, Kōichi Shimoda

An exact expression of the gain constant of two-level molecules (or atoms) in a standing-wave optical field is obtained for a special case where the optical frequency is in exact resonance with the molecular transition and the longitudinal and transverse relaxations have equal decay constants. Secondly, an exact form of gain constant as a function of frequency detuning which decribes the shape of Lamb dip or saturated absorption is shown for another case where the transverse relaxation is much faster than the longitudinal relaxation. A flat velocity distribution of molecules at Doppler limit is assumed in either case.

Japanese Journal of Applied Physics•May 1, 1971•17 citations

Higher-Order Perturbation Theory in Gaseous Lasers

W. Culshaw

The Lamb theory of the optical maser is extended to fifth and higher orders in the perturbation by the time-dependent iteration method, and by a rate-constant approach obtained by removing the time dependence in the Hamiltonian with a unitary transformation. The third- and fifth-order Fourier projections of the atomic polarization are integrated exactly over the atomic velocity distribution, assumed Maxwellian, and the results are then valid for any ratio of natural linewidth, or cavity detuning, to the Doppler width. Dominant fifth-order terms occur whose variation with cavity detuning depends only on the natural line-width of the transition. These produce an increase in laser intensity versus cavity detuning, including a reduction of the dip phenomena, and are effective at low levels of laser excitation. In addition, third-order and numerous fifth-order terms occur which involve sharper resonances near line center because of Doppler interference effects. Such terms involve the individual decay constants of the states in a complicated way. Owing to cancellation effects, the totality of such terms is in general small compared with the usual saturation term and the dominant fifth-order contributions. This considerably simplifies the deduction of higher-order perturbation terms. Collision processes would also reduce their effect as a result of their higher-order atomic response functions, but the theory is reasonably consistent with present experimental characteristics even without this possibility. The rate-constant approach facilitates the deduction of the various higher-order perturbation results and would be of even greater utility in discussing the Zeeman laser, particularly for axial magnetic fields and complicated transitions.

Physical Review•Dec 10, 1967•14 citations

Semiclassical Theory of Saturated Absorption in Gases

J.H. Shirley

A three-dimensional theory for the resonant interaction of electromagnetic waves with a gas of two-level atoms is formulated in terms of macroscopic variables. The theory is utilized to find the steady-state attenuation of a plane wave in the presence of another plane wave running in the opposite direction with different amplitude. Contributions are included from the reflection of the oppositely running wave by an induced standing-wave inhomogeneity in the population inversion of the medium. The resulting attenuation and reflection coefficients are expressed as velocity integrals of continued fractions. Correspondence is made with existing gas-laser theories, yielding the formulation of a high-intensity ring-laser theory. Analytic approximations for the coefficients are presented for the Doppler-limit cases of both waves weak, one wave weak, and negligible reflection (rate-equation approximation). More-general cases have been calculated numerically. The attenuation coefficients exhibit a Lamb-dip feature. The relative depth of the dip increases rapidly with power at low saturation levels, slowly at high saturation, and is greater in the attenuation of the weaker wave. The width of the dip is nonlinearly power broadened. The shape of the dip is very nearly Lorentzian, except for one special case at high power in which the line splits. The propagation equations for the two waves are integrated over long absorption paths. A large resulting attenuation increases the relative size of the dip while decreasing the power broadening.

Physical Review A•Jul 1, 1973•48 citations

Nonlinear Level Crossing in the Standing-Wave Field

Kōichi Shimoda

The nonlinear susceptibility of a gas of molecules under level crossing in a single-mode laser field is calculated by an iteration procedure. The higher-order solutions up to the fourth order are explicitly given for arbitrary number of nearly degenerate levels. Contributions of the second-, third-, and fourth-order terms are discussed with particular emphasis on the third-order term. The third-order solution reveals the level-crossing effect in saturated absorption with the half-width almost twice as broad as the Lamb clip when the decay rates of the upper and the lower states are different to some extent. Finally the zero-field level-crossing experiment of methane at 3.39 µm by Luntz et al. is reexamined to result in the pressure broadening of its half-width to be 7.4 MHz/Torr.

Japanese Journal of Applied Physics•Apr 1, 1972•9 citations

Theory of a Single-Mode Gas Laser

Howard Greenstein

A gas laser oscillating steadily in a single mode is described theoretically using the "generalized Bloch equations" as the point of departure. The nonlinear susceptibility is calculated without utilizing perturbation techniques, so that the theory retains validity for laser fields of arbitrary intensity. Expressions are presented for (1) the "gain profile" which exhibits the phenomenon of dual "hole burning," (2) the powertuning characteristics, including the conditions for the appearance of the central tuning dip, and (3) the frequency of oscillation, in which are displayed the effects of mode pulling and pushing. Emphasis is on a strongly inhomogeneous line and a high-$Q$ cavity, although some more general results are included as well. For excitations only slightly above threshold, a comparison is made with the Lamb single-mode theory, and in all cases agreement is found.

Physical Review•Nov 10, 1968•35 citations

Collision broadening in Lamb-dip spectroscopy

Lewis S. Klein, Michel Giraud, A. Ben‐Reuven

A previously developed diagrammatic method for calculating the nonlinear response of a dilute gas at near resonance with strong classical radiation fields is extended to include velocity-dependent homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening phenomena. The method is applied to two-level saturated-absorption (Lamb-dip) spectroscopy. Expressions are obtained for the collision-broadened Lamb dip probed by a weak field in the presence of an arbitrarily strong saturating field and are compared to the usual infinite-Doppler-width, weak-saturation expression. We study the effects of velocity and momentum transfer on the line-shape parameters and discuss the effect of phase-changing and strong inelastic collisions on the intensity.

Physical Review A•Jul 1, 1977•9 citations
The semi-classical theory of a single-mode gas laser has been extended to include higher-order terms by a simpler method than previous ones. The present theory takes not only the lifetimes of the two states but also the effect of phase-perturbing collisions into consideration by using three phenomenological decay constants in the two-level system. Explicit expressions in the general case of nonlinear susceptibility of the laser medium or the saturable absorber are presented for the fifth and seventh orders, while the ninth-order expression is shown for a special case of a very long longitudinal relaxation time.
An exact expression of the gain constant of two-level molecules (or atoms) in a standing-wave optical field is obtained for a special case where the optical frequency is in exact resonance with the molecular transition and the longitudinal and transverse relaxations have equal decay constants. Secondly, an exact form of gain constant as a function of frequency detuning which decribes the shape of Lamb dip or saturated absorption is shown for another case where the transverse relaxation is much faster than the longitudinal relaxation. A flat velocity distribution of molecules at Doppler limit is assumed in either case.
The Lamb theory of the optical maser is extended to fifth and higher orders in the perturbation by the time-dependent iteration method, and by a rate-constant approach obtained by removing the time dependence in the Hamiltonian with a unitary transformation. The third- and fifth-order Fourier projections of the atomic polarization are integrated exactly over the atomic velocity distribution, assumed Maxwellian, and the results are then valid for any ratio of natural linewidth, or cavity detuning, to the Doppler width. Dominant fifth-order terms occur whose variation with cavity detuning depends only on the natural line-width of the transition. These produce an increase in laser intensity versus cavity detuning, including a reduction of the dip phenomena, and are effective at low levels of laser excitation. In addition, third-order and numerous fifth-order terms occur which involve sharper resonances near line center because of Doppler interference effects. Such terms involve the individual decay constants of the states in a complicated way. Owing to cancellation effects, the totality of such terms is in general small compared with the usual saturation term and the dominant fifth-order contributions. This considerably simplifies the deduction of higher-order perturbation terms. Collision processes would also reduce their effect as a result of their higher-order atomic response functions, but the theory is reasonably consistent with present experimental characteristics even without this possibility. The rate-constant approach facilitates the deduction of the various higher-order perturbation results and would be of even greater utility in discussing the Zeeman laser, particularly for axial magnetic fields and complicated transitions.
A three-dimensional theory for the resonant interaction of electromagnetic waves with a gas of two-level atoms is formulated in terms of macroscopic variables. The theory is utilized to find the steady-state attenuation of a plane wave in the presence of another plane wave running in the opposite direction with different amplitude. Contributions are included from the reflection of the oppositely running wave by an induced standing-wave inhomogeneity in the population inversion of the medium. The resulting attenuation and reflection coefficients are expressed as velocity integrals of continued fractions. Correspondence is made with existing gas-laser theories, yielding the formulation of a high-intensity ring-laser theory. Analytic approximations for the coefficients are presented for the Doppler-limit cases of both waves weak, one wave weak, and negligible reflection (rate-equation approximation). More-general cases have been calculated numerically. The attenuation coefficients exhibit a Lamb-dip feature. The relative depth of the dip increases rapidly with power at low saturation levels, slowly at high saturation, and is greater in the attenuation of the weaker wave. The width of the dip is nonlinearly power broadened. The shape of the dip is very nearly Lorentzian, except for one special case at high power in which the line splits. The propagation equations for the two waves are integrated over long absorption paths. A large resulting attenuation increases the relative size of the dip while decreasing the power broadening.
The nonlinear susceptibility of a gas of molecules under level crossing in a single-mode laser field is calculated by an iteration procedure. The higher-order solutions up to the fourth order are explicitly given for arbitrary number of nearly degenerate levels. Contributions of the second-, third-, and fourth-order terms are discussed with particular emphasis on the third-order term. The third-order solution reveals the level-crossing effect in saturated absorption with the half-width almost twice as broad as the Lamb clip when the decay rates of the upper and the lower states are different to some extent. Finally the zero-field level-crossing experiment of methane at 3.39 µm by Luntz et al. is reexamined to result in the pressure broadening of its half-width to be 7.4 MHz/Torr.
A gas laser oscillating steadily in a single mode is described theoretically using the "generalized Bloch equations" as the point of departure. The nonlinear susceptibility is calculated without utilizing perturbation techniques, so that the theory retains validity for laser fields of arbitrary intensity. Expressions are presented for (1) the "gain profile" which exhibits the phenomenon of dual "hole burning," (2) the powertuning characteristics, including the conditions for the appearance of the central tuning dip, and (3) the frequency of oscillation, in which are displayed the effects of mode pulling and pushing. Emphasis is on a strongly inhomogeneous line and a high-QQQ cavity, although some more general results are included as well. For excitations only slightly above threshold, a comparison is made with the Lamb single-mode theory, and in all cases agreement is found.
A previously developed diagrammatic method for calculating the nonlinear response of a dilute gas at near resonance with strong classical radiation fields is extended to include velocity-dependent homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening phenomena. The method is applied to two-level saturated-absorption (Lamb-dip) spectroscopy. Expressions are obtained for the collision-broadened Lamb dip probed by a weak field in the presence of an arbitrarily strong saturating field and are compared to the usual infinite-Doppler-width, weak-saturation expression. We study the effects of velocity and momentum transfer on the line-shape parameters and discuss the effect of phase-changing and strong inelastic collisions on the intensity.