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

Rotating Polarization-Induced Resonance in Atoms and Molecules

Olivier Émile, Fabien Bretenaker, A. Le Floch

Published Sep 4, 1995• 6 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The existence of a novel resonance in the modulation of the fluorescence light emitted by an atom or a molecule when coherently excited by a rapidly rotating linearly polarized light beam is predicted. Such resonances are experimentally observed due to a transfer of coherence from light to atoms or molecules, via either stimulated emission or absorption of light, without having to shift the positions of the levels by an external perturbation. These resonances directly permit the measurement of energy level lifetimes, even in the case where usual magnetic resonance methods would require the use of large magnetic fields.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.75.1907

Related papers

Rotating Polarization Probing of Elastic and Inelastic Scatterings

Olivier Émile, Fabien Bretenaker, A. Le Floch

The recent technical advances in the creation of rapidly rotating light polarizations are shown to provide new tools to explore elastic and inelastic scattering phenomena. In the case of inelastic scattering, the light fluoresced by atoms or molecules coherently excited by a rapidly rotating linear polarization is expected to exhibit new resonances. Such resonances, due to the transfer of coherence from light to atoms or molecules, are theoretically studied and experimentally observed. They provide simple methods to probe atomic internal constants, such as energy level life-times. The analogy between those resonances and the Hanle effect suggests new experiments in atomic physics. In the case of elastic scattering such as the one encountered during propagation through a dense turbid medium, the rotating linear polarization is shown to be an ideal tool to extract the ballistic photons from the large background of diffused light. This permits to image tiny objects embedded in a dense turbid medium, with an experimental resolution similar to the one obtained in usual homogeneous optical system.

Modern Physics Letters B•Mar 10, 1997•1 citation

Light Modulation Experiment of Xe Atoms with Laser Light. II. Experimental Results

Tadao Mochizuki, Kōichi Shimoda

In this experiment Xe atoms are pumped to the excited states with an r.f. discharge and irradiated by the 3.99 µm Xe laser on the 5d[1/2] 0 0 →6p[1/2] 1 transition. Fluorescent light from the 6p[1/2] 1 level is observed to be modulated when the atoms are subjected to a low-frequency rotating field in perpendicular to the static field. The natural lifetime of the 6p[1/2] 1 level is obtained to be 56±3 ns. The 3.50 µm laser on the 5d[7/2] 0 3 →6p[5/2] 2 transition is also used. The light modulation signal of the fluorescence from the 6p[5/2] 2 level as a fuction of the magnetic field is a superposition of resonance curves of two different widths. The narrow component is a manifestation of atomic coherence of the 5d[7/2] 0 3 level which is transferred to the 6p[5/2] 2 level. The natural lifetime of the 5d[7/2] 0 3 level is obtained as 73±9 ns from the study of the 6p[5/2] 2 level.

Journal of the Physical Society of Japan•Aug 1, 1978•0 citations

Coherence effects in laser-fluorescence molecular-beam magnetic resonance

Allan G. Adam, S. David Rosner, T. Dean Gaily +1 more

New studies of ${\mathrm{Na}}_{2}$ hyperfine structure (hfs) by the laser-induced-fluorescence molecular-beam magnetic-resonance technique are described which show that state selection and detection by strong optical fields can produce rf-magnetic-resonance spectra which differ drastically from the Rabi shape, even though the optical and rf fields do not act simultaneously on the molecules. We suggest that in the case of optically unresolved ground-state sublevels these effects are due to the creation of ground-state coherence by absorption and stimulated-emission cycles in the laser field, and we present a model calculation which exhibits the essential features of the observed spectra. We also give a proof that no model based only upon populations can explain the negative signals we observe.

Physical Review A•Jul 1, 1982•11 citations

Depolarization of Resonance Fluorescence from Interacting Atoms

Lue‐Yung Chow Chiu

The polarization of the resonance fluorescence of interacting atoms and the transfer of coherence, due to the exchange of excitation, are studied theoretically. The treatment is for the general case where both the excited and the ground states can have arbitrary angular momenta, except that they can be connected to each other by an allowed transition. Electrostatic dipole–dipole interaction and electromagnetic radiative interaction are considered simultaneously as the perturbations on the system. Heitler and Ma's generalized time-dependent perturbation method is used. The system is quantized with respect to the space-fixed z axis and a static magnetic field along the z axis may be present, so that the magnetic sublevels (m, m′, etc., for the excited state J, and α, β, etc., for the ground state J′) are not necessarily degenerate. The intensity of the scattered light of a given polarization, in a given direction, is expressed as a function of kR (where ℏck is the energy of excitation and R is the internuclear distance), and of the orientation of R with respect to z axis. The matrix elements (ℏ / 2)γmβ,αm′ and Vmβ,αm′, which cause resonant transfer of excitation between two atoms through radiative and electrostatic interaction, respectively, are also expressed as a function of kR, and of the orientation of R. For randomly oriented atoms, the polarization after being averaged over the random orientation of R becomes a function of kR. Numerical calculations have been carried out for S01 → 1P1 transition. The coherence is shown to be conserved upon resonant transfer of excitation when R is parallel to the quantization axis.

The Journal of Chemical Physics•Jan 1, 1970•4 citations

Collisional Transfer of Coherence: Polarization of Sensitized Fluorescence

Lue‐Yung Chow Chiu

Energy transfer and coherence transfer between two atoms of different species are studied theoretically. The electric dipole-dipole interaction is the mechanism considered for the excitation transfer. A generalized perturbation method for a damping system is used. A general formula is derived for the polarization of the sensitized fluorescence resulting from the excitation transfer. This polarization is shown to be dependent on the angular momenta of the two atoms, and to be independent of their relative velocity as well as of their difference in the energy of excitation. The polarizations are found to be nonzero in many cases which demonstrate the transfer of coherence through collision processes. A general and compact formula is also derived for the polarization of pure fluorescence where excitation exchange has not taken place. The polarization of the sensitized fluorescence is in general smaller than that of the pure fluorescence. This means that the coherence is transferred only partially. Finally, the magnetic field effect has been included. This field depolarization depends on the ${g}_{j}$ values and the lifetimes of the excited states of both atoms. The general feature of the field dependence also differs considerably from that of the Hanle effect for resonance fluorescence.

Physical Review A•May 1, 1972•6 citations

A New "Double Resonance" Method for Investigating Atomic Energy Levels. Application to Hg P 1 3

J. Brossel, Francis Bitter

Excitation of atoms in a vapor by polarized light produces unequal population of the magnetic sublevels of the excited state. The emitted optical resonance radiation is therefore partly polarized. The application of radiofrequency or microwave fields at a magnetic resonance frequency will induce transitions between sublevels of the excited state. The degree of polarization of the emitted optical resonance radiation is altered when the magnetic resonance condition is fulfilled. As suggested by Brossel and Kastler, this effect may be used to reveal the structure of the energy level. A detailed theory applicable to, and experiments on the $^{3}P_{1}$ state of all the isotopes of mercury are reported. The results obtained indicate that double resonance phenomena constitute a valuable new tool for investigating the structure of atomic energy levels. The mean life of the $^{3}P_{1}$ state is shown by observations on the resonance line widths to be 1.55\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}$ sec for all the isotopes. The $g$-factor of the $^{3}P_{1}$ state for isotopes with zero spin, measured in terms of the proton $g$-factor, is 1.4838\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0004.

Physical Review•May 1, 1952•373 citations
The existence of a novel resonance in the modulation of the fluorescence light emitted by an atom or a molecule when coherently excited by a rapidly rotating linearly polarized light beam is predicted. Such resonances are experimentally observed due to a transfer of coherence from light to atoms or molecules, via either stimulated emission or absorption of light, without having to shift the positions of the levels by an external perturbation. These resonances directly permit the measurement of energy level lifetimes, even in the case where usual magnetic resonance methods would require the use of large magnetic fields.
The recent technical advances in the creation of rapidly rotating light polarizations are shown to provide new tools to explore elastic and inelastic scattering phenomena. In the case of inelastic scattering, the light fluoresced by atoms or molecules coherently excited by a rapidly rotating linear polarization is expected to exhibit new resonances. Such resonances, due to the transfer of coherence from light to atoms or molecules, are theoretically studied and experimentally observed. They provide simple methods to probe atomic internal constants, such as energy level life-times. The analogy between those resonances and the Hanle effect suggests new experiments in atomic physics. In the case of elastic scattering such as the one encountered during propagation through a dense turbid medium, the rotating linear polarization is shown to be an ideal tool to extract the ballistic photons from the large background of diffused light. This permits to image tiny objects embedded in a dense turbid medium, with an experimental resolution similar to the one obtained in usual homogeneous optical system.
In this experiment Xe atoms are pumped to the excited states with an r.f. discharge and irradiated by the 3.99 µm Xe laser on the 5d[1/2] 0 0 →6p[1/2] 1 transition. Fluorescent light from the 6p[1/2] 1 level is observed to be modulated when the atoms are subjected to a low-frequency rotating field in perpendicular to the static field. The natural lifetime of the 6p[1/2] 1 level is obtained to be 56±3 ns. The 3.50 µm laser on the 5d[7/2] 0 3 →6p[5/2] 2 transition is also used. The light modulation signal of the fluorescence from the 6p[5/2] 2 level as a fuction of the magnetic field is a superposition of resonance curves of two different widths. The narrow component is a manifestation of atomic coherence of the 5d[7/2] 0 3 level which is transferred to the 6p[5/2] 2 level. The natural lifetime of the 5d[7/2] 0 3 level is obtained as 73±9 ns from the study of the 6p[5/2] 2 level.
New studies of Na2{\mathrm{Na}}_{2}Na2​ hyperfine structure (hfs) by the laser-induced-fluorescence molecular-beam magnetic-resonance technique are described which show that state selection and detection by strong optical fields can produce rf-magnetic-resonance spectra which differ drastically from the Rabi shape, even though the optical and rf fields do not act simultaneously on the molecules. We suggest that in the case of optically unresolved ground-state sublevels these effects are due to the creation of ground-state coherence by absorption and stimulated-emission cycles in the laser field, and we present a model calculation which exhibits the essential features of the observed spectra. We also give a proof that no model based only upon populations can explain the negative signals we observe.
The polarization of the resonance fluorescence of interacting atoms and the transfer of coherence, due to the exchange of excitation, are studied theoretically. The treatment is for the general case where both the excited and the ground states can have arbitrary angular momenta, except that they can be connected to each other by an allowed transition. Electrostatic dipole–dipole interaction and electromagnetic radiative interaction are considered simultaneously as the perturbations on the system. Heitler and Ma's generalized time-dependent perturbation method is used. The system is quantized with respect to the space-fixed z axis and a static magnetic field along the z axis may be present, so that the magnetic sublevels (m, m′, etc., for the excited state J, and α, β, etc., for the ground state J′) are not necessarily degenerate. The intensity of the scattered light of a given polarization, in a given direction, is expressed as a function of kR (where ℏck is the energy of excitation and R is the internuclear distance), and of the orientation of R with respect to z axis. The matrix elements (ℏ / 2)γmβ,αm′ and Vmβ,αm′, which cause resonant transfer of excitation between two atoms through radiative and electrostatic interaction, respectively, are also expressed as a function of kR, and of the orientation of R. For randomly oriented atoms, the polarization after being averaged over the random orientation of R becomes a function of kR. Numerical calculations have been carried out for S01 → 1P1 transition. The coherence is shown to be conserved upon resonant transfer of excitation when R is parallel to the quantization axis.
Energy transfer and coherence transfer between two atoms of different species are studied theoretically. The electric dipole-dipole interaction is the mechanism considered for the excitation transfer. A generalized perturbation method for a damping system is used. A general formula is derived for the polarization of the sensitized fluorescence resulting from the excitation transfer. This polarization is shown to be dependent on the angular momenta of the two atoms, and to be independent of their relative velocity as well as of their difference in the energy of excitation. The polarizations are found to be nonzero in many cases which demonstrate the transfer of coherence through collision processes. A general and compact formula is also derived for the polarization of pure fluorescence where excitation exchange has not taken place. The polarization of the sensitized fluorescence is in general smaller than that of the pure fluorescence. This means that the coherence is transferred only partially. Finally, the magnetic field effect has been included. This field depolarization depends on the gj{g}_{j}gj​ values and the lifetimes of the excited states of both atoms. The general feature of the field dependence also differs considerably from that of the Hanle effect for resonance fluorescence.
Excitation of atoms in a vapor by polarized light produces unequal population of the magnetic sublevels of the excited state. The emitted optical resonance radiation is therefore partly polarized. The application of radiofrequency or microwave fields at a magnetic resonance frequency will induce transitions between sublevels of the excited state. The degree of polarization of the emitted optical resonance radiation is altered when the magnetic resonance condition is fulfilled. As suggested by Brossel and Kastler, this effect may be used to reveal the structure of the energy level. A detailed theory applicable to, and experiments on the 3P1^{3}P_{1}3P1​ state of all the isotopes of mercury are reported. The results obtained indicate that double resonance phenomena constitute a valuable new tool for investigating the structure of atomic energy levels. The mean life of the 3P1^{3}P_{1}3P1​ state is shown by observations on the resonance line widths to be 1.55\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}$ sec for all the isotopes. The ggg-factor of the 3P1^{3}P_{1}3P1​ state for isotopes with zero spin, measured in terms of the proton ggg-factor, is 1.4838\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0004.