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 A

Thirteen pump-probe resonances of the sodium D1 line

Vincent Wong, Robert W. Boyd, Carlos R. Stroud, Ryan S. Bennink, Alberto M. Marino

Published Jul 8, 2003• 33 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We present the results of a pump-probe laser spectroscopic investigation of the Doppler-broadened sodium $D1$ resonance line. We find 13 resonances in the resulting spectra. These observations are well described by the numerical predictions of a four-level atomic model of the hyperfine structure of the sodium $D1$ line. We also find that many, but not all, of these features can be understood in terms of processes originating in a two-level or three-level subset of the full four-level model. The processes we observed include forward near-degenerate four-wave mixing and saturation in a two-level system, difference-frequency crossing and nondegenerate four-wave mixing in a three-level V system, electromagnetically induced transparency and optical pumping in a three-level lambda system, cross-transition resonance in a four-level double-lambda system, and conventional optical pumping. Most of these processes lead to sub-Doppler or even subnatural linewidths. The dependence of these resonances on the pump intensity and pump detuning from atomic resonance are also studied.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.68.012502

Related papers

Resonant multiwave-mixing spectra of gas-phase sodium: Nonperturbative calculations

Robert P. Lucht, Rick P. Trebino, Larry A. Rahn

We perform nonperturbative calculations of resonant multiwave mixing of two high-intensity laser beams of different frequencies both for a general three-level system and for the 3 $^{2}$${\mathit{S}}_{1/2}$--3 $^{2}$${\mathit{P}}_{1/2}$ electronic resonance of the sodium atom. Our calculations proceed by direct numerical integration of the density-matrix equations and subsequent Fourier analysis of the calculated time-dependent density-matrix elements. We examine the case where two nearly degenerate input beams are each detuned many collisional linewidths from electronic resonance, and the frequency difference between the input beams is tuned through a ground-state resonance. Unlike previous high-intensity analyses, each input beam can be resonant with numerous transitions simultaneously; for a three-level system, we refer to this as an ``M-type'' system, in analogy with \ensuremath{\Lambda}- and V-type systems. Calculated four-, six-, and eight-wave-mixing spectra exhibit subharmonic resonances of the type observed experimentally by Trebino and Rahn [Opt. Lett. 12, 912 (1987)]. The three-level system is studied to gain insight into the physics of these subharmonic resonances. For more quantitative comparison with experiment, we use a model that includes the 16 Zeeman and hyperfine states in the 3 $^{2}$${\mathit{S}}_{1/2}$ and the 3 $^{2}$${\mathit{P}}_{1/2}$ levels, and accounts for arbitrary linear polarization of the input laser radiation. The relative intensities of the resonance features in the calculated multiwave-mixing spectra show good agreement with experiment. These resonance features broaden and shift as laser intensity increases, as predicted for four-wave-mixing processes in previous, less general high-intensity analyses. Both theory and experiment also show additional resonant features in the eight-wave-mixing spectra that appear at very high intensity.

Physical Review A•Jun 1, 1992•23 citations

Detailed velocity-dependent line shapes for degenerate four-wave mixing spectra in a two-level atomic system

Binh Do, Daniel S. Elliott

We study phase-conjugate degenerate four-wave mixing in an optically pumped, two-level atomic system (the ${3s}^{2}{S}_{1/2},$ $F=2,$ ${m}_{\mathrm{F}}=\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{2}{3p}^{2}{P}_{3/2},$ $F=3,$ ${m}_{\mathrm{F}}=3$ transition in a diffuse, collision-free, thermal beam of sodium). In this investigation, we study the detailed line shape and strength of the four-wave mixing signal as a function of the intensity of the cw pump waves, and of the velocity of the atoms. Our technique allows us to examine the four-wave mixing interaction under conditions in which the Doppler shift, the natural linewidth of the transition, and the Rabi frequency for the interaction are each comparable with one another. From our experimental measurements and computational results, we show that the line shapes are very complex in this regime, and that they depend sensitively upon the atomic velocity, especially in the case when the intensity of the forward and backward pump beams exceeds the saturation intensity for the transition.

Physical Review A•Jun 19, 2003•3 citations

Degenerate four-wave mixing line shapes in sodium vapor under pulsed excitation

Prem Kumar

Degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM) line shapes are investigated in sodium vapor near the D(2) resonance line using nearly Fourier-transform-limited pulses. At low pump intensities sub-Doppler resolution is obtained. When the Rabi frequency associated with the pump intensity becomes comparable with the ground-state hyperfine frequency separation of sodium, each component of the double-peaked DFWM spectrum splits further into two components. An adiabatic-following model explains the near-resonant intensity dependence of the DFWM signal. A qualitative explanation of the observed splitting is also given.

Optics Letters•Feb 1, 1985•13 citations

Coherent pump–probe spectroscopy of a Λ system with a close lying excited level

Niharika Singh, Ayan Ray, Richard D’Souza +2 more

We investigate coherent pump–probe spectroscopy of a medium of atoms in Λ configuration with a closely placed adjacent excited level. The presence of the additional level results in two simultaneous Λ resonances excited by the same pair of pump and probe fields. A master equation framework is used to discuss the probe absorption spectrum and dispersion in the absence/presence of inhomogeneous broadening, and the results are illustrated by using a model four-level system in the D2 transition of 85Rb. The system is observed to exhibit additional interference effects arising from two competing Λ resonances. These effects manifest in terms of linewidths of the triplet dressed state spectrum and suppression of the subnatural peak for the stationary atoms. The effect on electromagnetically induced transparency is discussed in the light of its shape, position and linewidth. The discussion is further augmented by the study of a six-level model as applicable to the D2 transition of 85Rb. The analysis presented here provides a realistic theoretical description of the pump–probe spectroscopy of hyperfine transitions of alkali atoms.

Physica Scripta•Nov 25, 2013•4 citations

Nearly degenerate four-wave mixing with bichromatic laser fields in a Rb atomic system

Ji Lin, A. I. Rubiera, Yifu Zhu

We present an experimental study of cw nearly degenerate four-wave-mixing emission in a Doppler broadened Rb atomic system. With the fixed detuning of an intense pump laser for the Rb ${\mathit{D}}_{2}$ line, the nearly degenerate four-wave-mixing emission exhibits three peaks as a probe laser is scanned across the same Rb ${\mathit{D}}_{2}$ line. The observed three-peaked spectrum can be interpreted as the resonances in the energy structure of the dressed atomic states.

Physical Review A•Dec 1, 1995•17 citations

Coherent two-field spectroscopy of degenerate two-level systems

A. Lezama, S. Barreiro, A. Lipsich +1 more

Spectroscopic features revealing the coherent interaction of a degenerate two-level atomic system with two optical fields are examined. A model for the numerical calculation of the response of a degenerate two-level system to the action of an arbitrarily intense resonant pump field and a weak probe in the presence of a magnetic field is presented. The model is valid for arbitrary values of the total angular momentum of the lower and upper levels and for any choice of the polarizations of the optical waves. Closed and open degenerate two-level systems are considered. Predictions for probe absorption and dispersion, field generation by four-wave mixing, population modulation, and Zeeman optical pumping are derived. On all these observables, subnatural-width coherence resonances are predicted and their spectroscopic features are discussed. Experimental spectra for probe absorption and excited-state population modulation in the ${D}_{2}$ line of Rb vapor are presented in good agreement with the calculations.

Physical Review A•Dec 8, 1999•87 citations
We present the results of a pump-probe laser spectroscopic investigation of the Doppler-broadened sodium D1D1D1 resonance line. We find 13 resonances in the resulting spectra. These observations are well described by the numerical predictions of a four-level atomic model of the hyperfine structure of the sodium D1D1D1 line. We also find that many, but not all, of these features can be understood in terms of processes originating in a two-level or three-level subset of the full four-level model. The processes we observed include forward near-degenerate four-wave mixing and saturation in a two-level system, difference-frequency crossing and nondegenerate four-wave mixing in a three-level V system, electromagnetically induced transparency and optical pumping in a three-level lambda system, cross-transition resonance in a four-level double-lambda system, and conventional optical pumping. Most of these processes lead to sub-Doppler or even subnatural linewidths. The dependence of these resonances on the pump intensity and pump detuning from atomic resonance are also studied.
We perform nonperturbative calculations of resonant multiwave mixing of two high-intensity laser beams of different frequencies both for a general three-level system and for the 3 2^{2}2S1/2{\mathit{S}}_{1/2}S1/2​--3 2^{2}2P1/2{\mathit{P}}_{1/2}P1/2​ electronic resonance of the sodium atom. Our calculations proceed by direct numerical integration of the density-matrix equations and subsequent Fourier analysis of the calculated time-dependent density-matrix elements. We examine the case where two nearly degenerate input beams are each detuned many collisional linewidths from electronic resonance, and the frequency difference between the input beams is tuned through a ground-state resonance. Unlike previous high-intensity analyses, each input beam can be resonant with numerous transitions simultaneously; for a three-level system, we refer to this as an ``M-type'' system, in analogy with \ensuremath{\Lambda}- and V-type systems. Calculated four-, six-, and eight-wave-mixing spectra exhibit subharmonic resonances of the type observed experimentally by Trebino and Rahn [Opt. Lett. 12, 912 (1987)]. The three-level system is studied to gain insight into the physics of these subharmonic resonances. For more quantitative comparison with experiment, we use a model that includes the 16 Zeeman and hyperfine states in the 3 2^{2}2S1/2{\mathit{S}}_{1/2}S1/2​ and the 3 2^{2}2P1/2{\mathit{P}}_{1/2}P1/2​ levels, and accounts for arbitrary linear polarization of the input laser radiation. The relative intensities of the resonance features in the calculated multiwave-mixing spectra show good agreement with experiment. These resonance features broaden and shift as laser intensity increases, as predicted for four-wave-mixing processes in previous, less general high-intensity analyses. Both theory and experiment also show additional resonant features in the eight-wave-mixing spectra that appear at very high intensity.
We study phase-conjugate degenerate four-wave mixing in an optically pumped, two-level atomic system (the 3s2S1/2,{3s}^{2}{S}_{1/2},3s2S1/2​, F=2,F=2,F=2, ${m}_{\mathrm{F}}=\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{2}{3p}^{2}{P}_{3/2},$ F=3,F=3,F=3, mF=3{m}_{\mathrm{F}}=3mF​=3 transition in a diffuse, collision-free, thermal beam of sodium). In this investigation, we study the detailed line shape and strength of the four-wave mixing signal as a function of the intensity of the cw pump waves, and of the velocity of the atoms. Our technique allows us to examine the four-wave mixing interaction under conditions in which the Doppler shift, the natural linewidth of the transition, and the Rabi frequency for the interaction are each comparable with one another. From our experimental measurements and computational results, we show that the line shapes are very complex in this regime, and that they depend sensitively upon the atomic velocity, especially in the case when the intensity of the forward and backward pump beams exceeds the saturation intensity for the transition.
Degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM) line shapes are investigated in sodium vapor near the D(2) resonance line using nearly Fourier-transform-limited pulses. At low pump intensities sub-Doppler resolution is obtained. When the Rabi frequency associated with the pump intensity becomes comparable with the ground-state hyperfine frequency separation of sodium, each component of the double-peaked DFWM spectrum splits further into two components. An adiabatic-following model explains the near-resonant intensity dependence of the DFWM signal. A qualitative explanation of the observed splitting is also given.
We investigate coherent pump–probe spectroscopy of a medium of atoms in Λ configuration with a closely placed adjacent excited level. The presence of the additional level results in two simultaneous Λ resonances excited by the same pair of pump and probe fields. A master equation framework is used to discuss the probe absorption spectrum and dispersion in the absence/presence of inhomogeneous broadening, and the results are illustrated by using a model four-level system in the D2 transition of 85Rb. The system is observed to exhibit additional interference effects arising from two competing Λ resonances. These effects manifest in terms of linewidths of the triplet dressed state spectrum and suppression of the subnatural peak for the stationary atoms. The effect on electromagnetically induced transparency is discussed in the light of its shape, position and linewidth. The discussion is further augmented by the study of a six-level model as applicable to the D2 transition of 85Rb. The analysis presented here provides a realistic theoretical description of the pump–probe spectroscopy of hyperfine transitions of alkali atoms.
We present an experimental study of cw nearly degenerate four-wave-mixing emission in a Doppler broadened Rb atomic system. With the fixed detuning of an intense pump laser for the Rb D2{\mathit{D}}_{2}D2​ line, the nearly degenerate four-wave-mixing emission exhibits three peaks as a probe laser is scanned across the same Rb D2{\mathit{D}}_{2}D2​ line. The observed three-peaked spectrum can be interpreted as the resonances in the energy structure of the dressed atomic states.
Spectroscopic features revealing the coherent interaction of a degenerate two-level atomic system with two optical fields are examined. A model for the numerical calculation of the response of a degenerate two-level system to the action of an arbitrarily intense resonant pump field and a weak probe in the presence of a magnetic field is presented. The model is valid for arbitrary values of the total angular momentum of the lower and upper levels and for any choice of the polarizations of the optical waves. Closed and open degenerate two-level systems are considered. Predictions for probe absorption and dispersion, field generation by four-wave mixing, population modulation, and Zeeman optical pumping are derived. On all these observables, subnatural-width coherence resonances are predicted and their spectroscopic features are discussed. Experimental spectra for probe absorption and excited-state population modulation in the D2{D}_{2}D2​ line of Rb vapor are presented in good agreement with the calculations.