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Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics

Non-adiabatic Atomic Coherence at Work in the Oxygen Laser Source for Atmospheric Remote Sensing

Alexei V. Sokolov, Luqi Yuan, Andrew J. Traverso, Rodrigo Sánchez-González, Michael P. Grubb, Kai Wang, Dmitri V. Voronine, Aleksei M. Zheltikov, Arthur Dogariu, James Michael, Richard B. Miles, Yuri V. Rostovtsev, Vladimir A. Sautenkov, Simon W. North, Marlan O. Scully

Published Jan 1, 2012• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We pump ambient air by loosely-focused ultraviolet pulses and generate a backward laser-like beam for use in remote sensing. We find that this efficient emission is likely linked to non-adiabatic coherence effects in atomic oxygen.
DOI
10.1364/cleo_si.2012.cm2f.3

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We have studied coherent emission from ambient air and demonstrated efficient generation of laser-like beams directed both forward and backward with respect to a nanosecond ultraviolet pumping laser beam. The generated optical gain is a result of two-photon photolysis of atmospheric O(2), followed by two-photon excitation of atomic oxygen. We have analyzed the temporal shapes of the emitted pulses and have observed very short duration intensity spikes as well as a large Rabi frequency that corresponds to the emitted field. Our results suggest that the emission process exhibits nonadiabatic atomic coherence, which is similar in nature to Dicke superradiance where atomic coherence is large and can be contrasted with ordinary lasing where atomic coherence is negligible. This atomic coherence in oxygen adds insight to the optical emission physics and holds promise for remote sensing techniques employing nonlinear spectroscopy.
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There is nothing so practical as a good theory. As a case in point, the compelling need for standoff detection of hazardous gases and vapor indicators of explosives has motivated the development of remotely pumped, scheme(s) which produce radiation in the backward direction [1,2]. Moving from conceptualization to theoretical analysis and experimental verification, we demonstrate that high gain can be achieved in air. Backward air lasing provides possibilities for remote detection [3] as will be discussed.