Completely integrable models of propagation of optical pulses of different polarization are considered under Raman resonance conditions with transitions involving a change in the total angular momentum 0→0 and 1→1.
We propose and develop a method for theoretical description of circularly (elliptically) polarized optical pulse resonant coherent interactions with two-level atoms. The method is based on the time-evolution equations of a two-level quantum system in the presence of a time-dependent dipole perturbation for electric dipole transitions between states with total angular-momentum projection difference $(\ensuremath{\Delta}{J}_{z}=\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1)$ excited by a circularly polarized electromagnetic field [Feynman et al., J. Appl. Phys. 28, 49 (1957)]. The adopted real-vector representation approach allows for coupling with the vectorial Maxwell's equations for the optical wave propagation and thus the resulting Maxwell pseudospin equations can be numerically solved in the time domain without any approximations. The model permits a more exact study of the ultrafast coherent pulse propagation effects taking into account the vector nature of the electromagnetic field and hence the polarization state of the optical excitation. We demonstrate self-induced transparency effects and formation of polarized solitons. The model represents a qualitative extension of the well-known optical Maxwell-Bloch equations valid for linearly polarized light and a tool for studying coherent quantum control mechanisms.
Effect of the SF6 pressure on self-induced transparency (SIT) in SF6 was investigated systematically. The study consists of measuring the shape, width, delay time, and intensity of the transmitted pulse (which is a SIT pulse at low SF6 pressure) as a function of SF6 pressure P. The SIT pulse was induced by the nonlinear interaction of a 20-nsec P(20) CO2 laser pulse with the SF6. A theory which includes the homogeneous broadening mechanism was developed for the pulse delay time. For a stationary propagating pulse, it was found that the pulse delay time is related nonlinearly to Q (the ratio of the transiently energy stored energy density to the rate of change of the energy flux density of the field). From the interpretation of the experimental results, it was concluded that, for P>100 μ, the SF6-SF6 resonant collision makes a significant contribution to the departure from SIT. The effect of level degeneracies associated with the high angular momentum of the involved resonant vibrational states is also discussed.