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

Physical Review Letters

Atomic coherence effects within the sodium D1 line: Lasing without inversion via population trapping

Edward S. Fry, Xingfu Li, Dmitri E. Nikonov, Gunasiri G. Padmabandu, Marlan O. Scully, Arlie V. Smith, Frank K. Tittel, Ching Wang, Steve R. Wilkinson, Shi-Yao Zhu

Published May 24, 1993• 257 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Atomic coherence effects within the sodium ${\mathit{D}}_{1}$ line are shown to lead to the suppression of optical pumping, to the switching of light on and off when the coherence effects are turned on and off, and especially to lasing without inversion.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.70.3235

Related papers

Lasing without inversion through population trapping in the sodium D1 line

Xingfu Li, Gunasiri G. Padmabandu, Ching Wang +2 more

Atomic coherence effects are shown to lead to the suppression of optical pumping, to the switching of light on and off when the coherence effects are turned on and off, and especially to lasing without inversion.

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

Atomic coherence effects within the sodium D1manifold. III. Lasing without inversion via population trapping

Gunasiri G. Padmabandu, Xingfu Li, Chang Su +5 more

Transient lasing without inversion has been experimentally demonstrated in sodium vapour. The principle of this atomic coherence effect can be well understood from the theory of a simple four-level system. The experimental results match with numerical simulations which take the complete hyperfine structure of the sodium D 1 line into account. The differences between our system and a Raman laser are discussed.

Quantum Optics Journal of the European Optical Society Part B•Aug 1, 1994•8 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

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

Atomic coherence effects within the sodium D1manifold. II. Coherent optical pumping

Dmitri E. Nikonov, Ulrich W. Rathe, Marlan O. Scully +5 more

For pt. I see ibid. p. 231, 1994. We consider optical pumping in the multilevel sodium D 1 manifold by several coherent light fields. Coherence between atomic states is taken into account by solving the complete density matrix equations. The manifestation of population trapping and the variation of transmitted light intensity are predicted numerically and verified experimentally for the sodium D 1 line. The influence of relaxation and Doppler broadening is elucidated. The interaction of a strong and a weak field is shown to create electromagnetically induced transparency.

Quantum Optics Journal of the European Optical Society Part B•Aug 1, 1994•17 citations

Experiment observation of optical pumping and lasing without inversion via coherent trapping in sodium

Xingfu Li, Gunasiri G. Padmabandu, Ching Wang +2 more

NASA STI/Recon Technical Report A•Jan 1, 1993•0 citations
Atomic coherence effects within the sodium D1{\mathit{D}}_{1}D1​ line are shown to lead to the suppression of optical pumping, to the switching of light on and off when the coherence effects are turned on and off, and especially to lasing without inversion.
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.
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.
For pt. I see ibid. p. 231, 1994. We consider optical pumping in the multilevel sodium D 1 manifold by several coherent light fields. Coherence between atomic states is taken into account by solving the complete density matrix equations. The manifestation of population trapping and the variation of transmitted light intensity are predicted numerically and verified experimentally for the sodium D 1 line. The influence of relaxation and Doppler broadening is elucidated. The interaction of a strong and a weak field is shown to create electromagnetically induced transparency.