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Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics

Laser detection of optical signals

Vladimir P Bykov

Published Mar 1, 2003• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A scheme is proposed for detecting optical signals in which electrons bound in atoms, molecules, or ions are used as a sensitive element rather than free electrons, as in conventional detectors (photoelements, photomultipliers, etc.). It is shown that such a scheme has a high sensitivity and a reduced shot-noise level.
DOI
10.1134/1.1567415

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The nature of photocounts arising in detectors exposed to highly coherent laser radiation is discussed. It is shown that the spatial localization of a photon allowed in quantum electrodynamics fails to account for the effect observed and that the Coulomb instability of a low electron flux in a photodetector can be the explanation. With detectors utilizing non-free electrons, namely, electrons bound in atoms, ions, molecules, etc., weak optical signals can be detected with laser radiation without photocounts, in other words, at a suppressed shot noise. A basic scheme for a laser detector using bound electrons is suggested.
A system of unexcited three-level atoms, located in a nonresonant laser field, was examined. One of the excited levels in the system becomes populated under the influence of a weak optical signal, as a result of which the atoms resonate with the laser field. A consequence of this is intense scattering of the laser radiation and particularly excitation of the hitherto unexcited modes of the cavity in which the system of atoms is located. The system considered thus possesses states which are specially sensitive to external agencies and therefore sensitive optical-radiation detectors can be based on these states.