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

Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics

Lasing on the resonance transition in sodium atoms under nonresonant optical excitation

Roman V. Markov, А. И. Пархоменко, Alexander Ivanovich Plekhanov, Anatolii M. Shalagin

Published Aug 1, 2009• 17 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Coherent emission on the 3 P –3 S resonance transition ( D line) of nonresonantly excited sodium atoms in a buffer gas atmosphere is studied experimentally and theoretically. Both forward and backward coherent emission on the D lines is observed relative to the propagation direction of a pump beam whose frequency is blue-shifted from resonance. The divergence of the emitted radiation does not exceed that of the pump beam. The emission is due to the population inversion created on the “operating” transition when the pump is far detuned from resonance and the buffer gas pressure is sufficiently high. It is found that both emission intensity and the detuning range where this phenomenon is observed increase with the buffer gas pressure.

DOI
10.1134/s1063776109080019

Related papers

Population inversion in two-level system under continuous optical excitation

Roman V. Markov, Alexander Ivanovich Plekhanov, Anatolii M. Shalagin

Lasing on the sodium resonance transitions (D1 and D2 lines) at the superluminosity regime was observed upon the nonresonance excitation in the presence of a buffer gas. Dependences of the lasing intensity on the pump radiation intensity and its frequency detuning from the frequencies of resonance transitions were examined. It was found that under the specific experimental conditions (high buffer gas pressure, sufficiently high intensity of pump radiation) upon the large positive frequency detuning of pump radiation with respect to the frequency of resonance (working) transition, contrary to ingrained conceptions, population inversion for the working transition is raised. That results in observed phenomena.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•May 30, 2002•0 citations

Population inversion on transitions to the ground state of atoms upon nonresonance absorption of laser radiation

Roman V. Markov, Alexander Ivanovich Plekhanov, Anatolii M. Shalagin

Lasing at the resonance transitions ( D 1− and D 2− lines) of sodium was observed in the superradiance mode upon nonresonance optical excitation in the presence of a buffer gas. The dependences of the lasing intensity on the exciting radiation intensity and on the detuning of its frequency from the frequencies of resonance transitions were studied. It is found that, under specific conditions of the experiment (high pressure of a buffer gas and a rather high radiation intensity), in the case of a large positive detuning of the exciting radiation frequency from the resonance (“working”) transition frequency, the population inversion is produced at the “ working” transition, which results in lasing.

Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics•Nov 1, 2001•13 citations

Experimental observation of lasing without inversion in Na

Marlan O. Scully, Edward S. Fry, X. Li +3 more

Atomic coherence gives rise to a series of interesting phenomena in quantum optics.1 In this work we investigate coherence effects within the Na Dl line, demonstrating coherent trapping and lasing without inversion, and study the dependence of these phenomena on buffer gas pressure. Two pump laser beams (I, and I2) are tuned to the frequencies υ1 and υ2 that correspond to the 3S1/2 (F=1, 2) → 3P1/2 transition and are right circularly polarized. Pockels cells are used to turn on or/and off the beams within approximately one nanosecond. To demonstrate lasing without inversion, a weak pulse of left polarized light tuned to t)2 was used to create a small population in the upper level (3P1/2) and the amplification of I, was observed. We found a significant gain in the absence of population inversion, which was verified by a direct experimental observation. These results were observed as a function of buffer gas pressure. The atomic coherence effects are shown to disappear in the presence of a helium buffer gas at a pressure of ≈ 1 Torr; whereas, complete optical pumping is only achieved at helium buffer gas pressures >10 Torr.

Annual Meeting Optical Society of America•Jan 1, 1993•0 citations

Lasing on the D2 line of sodium in a helium atmosphere due to optical pumping on the D1 line (up-conversion)

A. A. Apolonsky, Sergey A. Babin, Sergey I. Kablukov +3 more

A method is proposed to produce population inversion on transitions involving the ground state of atoms. The method is realized experimentally with sodium atoms. Lasing at the frequency corresponding to the sodium ${D}_{2}$ line is achieved in the presence of pump radiation resonant to the ${D}_{1}$ line with helium as a buffer gas.

arXiv:physics/9906036•Physical Review A•Feb 15, 2000•8 citations

Amplified Spontaneous Emission on Sodium D-lines Using Nonresonant Optical Pumping

Timofey D. Petukhov, Gennadiy S. Evtushenko, Evgeny N. Telminov

We describe experiments on the excitation of amplified spontaneous emission on the D -lines of sodium ( D 2 = 588.9 nm; D 1 = 589.6 nm) with longitudinal optical pumping with a large detuning from the D 2 line toward shorter wavelengths. The radiation spectra are measured, showing gain on both lines, at a Na concentration of (1–5) × 10 14 cm –3 , buffer gas (helium) pressure of 600 Torr at the working temperature, and pumping power density of more than 1.5 MW/cm 2 . The time characteristics show that the output radiation varies versus the concentration of sodium atoms in the active medium. The dependences of radiation absorption at the D -lines of sodium on the concentration of Na atoms and buffer gas pressure are given.

Atmospheric and Oceanic Optics•Jan 1, 2018•3 citations

Population Inversion Induced by Collisions in a Two Level System under Nonresonance Optical Excitation

Roman V. Markov, Alexander Ivanovich Plekhanov, Anatolii M. Shalagin

When the gas particles, which can be considered as a two level quantum system, are affected by frequent collisions with buffer gas particles (thermal reservoir), the spectral densities of the Einstein coefficients for absorption and induced emission are unequal to each other far from the absorption (emission) line. The relationship between the spectral densities at the specified condition reveals new physical phenomena. The mostly convincing example is the fact that population inversion is established in a two level system under nonresonance optical excitation. This effect is experimentally observed as a lasing on sodium resonance transitions.

Physical Review Letters•May 10, 2002•21 citations
Coherent emission on the 3 P –3 S resonance transition ( D line) of nonresonantly excited sodium atoms in a buffer gas atmosphere is studied experimentally and theoretically. Both forward and backward coherent emission on the D lines is observed relative to the propagation direction of a pump beam whose frequency is blue-shifted from resonance. The divergence of the emitted radiation does not exceed that of the pump beam. The emission is due to the population inversion created on the “operating” transition when the pump is far detuned from resonance and the buffer gas pressure is sufficiently high. It is found that both emission intensity and the detuning range where this phenomenon is observed increase with the buffer gas pressure.
Lasing on the sodium resonance transitions (D1 and D2 lines) at the superluminosity regime was observed upon the nonresonance excitation in the presence of a buffer gas. Dependences of the lasing intensity on the pump radiation intensity and its frequency detuning from the frequencies of resonance transitions were examined. It was found that under the specific experimental conditions (high buffer gas pressure, sufficiently high intensity of pump radiation) upon the large positive frequency detuning of pump radiation with respect to the frequency of resonance (working) transition, contrary to ingrained conceptions, population inversion for the working transition is raised. That results in observed phenomena.
Lasing at the resonance transitions ( D 1− and D 2− lines) of sodium was observed in the superradiance mode upon nonresonance optical excitation in the presence of a buffer gas. The dependences of the lasing intensity on the exciting radiation intensity and on the detuning of its frequency from the frequencies of resonance transitions were studied. It is found that, under specific conditions of the experiment (high pressure of a buffer gas and a rather high radiation intensity), in the case of a large positive detuning of the exciting radiation frequency from the resonance (“working”) transition frequency, the population inversion is produced at the “ working” transition, which results in lasing.
Atomic coherence gives rise to a series of interesting phenomena in quantum optics.1 In this work we investigate coherence effects within the Na Dl line, demonstrating coherent trapping and lasing without inversion, and study the dependence of these phenomena on buffer gas pressure. Two pump laser beams (I, and I2) are tuned to the frequencies υ1 and υ2 that correspond to the 3S1/2 (F=1, 2) → 3P1/2 transition and are right circularly polarized. Pockels cells are used to turn on or/and off the beams within approximately one nanosecond. To demonstrate lasing without inversion, a weak pulse of left polarized light tuned to t)2 was used to create a small population in the upper level (3P1/2) and the amplification of I, was observed. We found a significant gain in the absence of population inversion, which was verified by a direct experimental observation. These results were observed as a function of buffer gas pressure. The atomic coherence effects are shown to disappear in the presence of a helium buffer gas at a pressure of ≈ 1 Torr; whereas, complete optical pumping is only achieved at helium buffer gas pressures >10 Torr.
A method is proposed to produce population inversion on transitions involving the ground state of atoms. The method is realized experimentally with sodium atoms. Lasing at the frequency corresponding to the sodium D2{D}_{2}D2​ line is achieved in the presence of pump radiation resonant to the D1{D}_{1}D1​ line with helium as a buffer gas.
We describe experiments on the excitation of amplified spontaneous emission on the D -lines of sodium ( D 2 = 588.9 nm; D 1 = 589.6 nm) with longitudinal optical pumping with a large detuning from the D 2 line toward shorter wavelengths. The radiation spectra are measured, showing gain on both lines, at a Na concentration of (1–5) × 10 14 cm –3 , buffer gas (helium) pressure of 600 Torr at the working temperature, and pumping power density of more than 1.5 MW/cm 2 . The time characteristics show that the output radiation varies versus the concentration of sodium atoms in the active medium. The dependences of radiation absorption at the D -lines of sodium on the concentration of Na atoms and buffer gas pressure are given.
When the gas particles, which can be considered as a two level quantum system, are affected by frequent collisions with buffer gas particles (thermal reservoir), the spectral densities of the Einstein coefficients for absorption and induced emission are unequal to each other far from the absorption (emission) line. The relationship between the spectral densities at the specified condition reveals new physical phenomena. The mostly convincing example is the fact that population inversion is established in a two level system under nonresonance optical excitation. This effect is experimentally observed as a lasing on sodium resonance transitions.