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Physical Review A

Laser-noise-induced population fluctuations in two-level systems: Complex and real Gaussian driving fields

R. Walser, Helmut Ritsch, P. Zoller, J. Cooper

Published Jan 1, 1992• 29 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The nonlinear dynamics of a sample of two-level systems exposed to noisy laser light is investigated. As stochastic models we treat the chaotic field and the real Gaussian field. Based on the method of marginal characteristic functions, we deduce analytical solutions for the mean values and variances of the atomic populations in terms of matrix continued fractions. We find significantly enhanced on-resonance fluctuations for a real Gaussian field compared to a chaotic field of the same bandwidth and intensity. Furthermore, in contrast to phase-noise models, the fluctuations in the fluorescence intensity do not decrease to zero in the limit of slow fluctuations.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.45.468

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The nonlinear dynamics of a sample of two-level systems exposed to noisy laser light is investigated. As stochastic models we treat the chaotic field and the real Gaussian field. Based on the method of marginal characteristic functions, we deduce analytical solutions for the mean values and variances of the atomic populations in terms of matrix continued fractions. We find significantly enhanced on-resonance fluctuations for a real Gaussian field compared to a chaotic field of the same bandwidth and intensity. Furthermore, in contrast to phase-noise models, the fluctuations in the fluorescence intensity do not decrease to zero in the limit of slow fluctuations.
Significant fluctuations, above the shot-noise limit, have been observed in the intensity of fluorescent light scattered from atoms excited by an intense noisy laser, where a central role is played by the nonlinearity of the atom-field interaction. By considering the variance of the atomic populations, we show that ``noise spectroscopy'' is sensitive to the field statistics of the laser. We specifically consider the cases of resonance fluorescence (analogous in the weak-field limit to analysis by a Fabry-P\'erot interferometer), two-photon excitation, and double optical resonance for variable laser intensity and bandwidth. We show that large differences in the ``noise'' spectra can occur between lasers characterized by a phase-diffusion or a phase-jump model, although these models would give the same values for the mean atomic populations. We believe that observation of population fluctuations can become a useful method for characterizing laser noise.
The dynamical behavior of an atom interacting with a coherent and a chaotic field is investigated. Langevin equations describing the time dependent behavior of the dipole moment and population inversion are numerically integrated using Monte-Carlo techniques. The model can account for a finite correlation time for the chaotic component. Results on fluctuations in the fluorescence intensity from an ensemble of two-level atoms and the power spectra of these intensity fluctuations are presented. The effect of detuning the pump field from the resonant frequency of the two-level atoms on the fluctuations in fluorescence is studied. The effect of field fluctuations on the macroscopic polarization produced by the atoms is also reported. The fluctuation behavior of the atomic fluorescence is found to be very sensitive to the correlation time of the stochastic component.
A theory is presented of the near-resonant interaction of two-level atom with strong Gaussian fields. Analytical expressions are given for the fluorescence intensity and for the two-time first- and second-order correlation functions of the intensity in both cases of a chaotic field and a real Gaussian field. The usual three-peak structure in the fluorescence spectrum is found to disappear because the amplitude fluctuations of the driving light prevent the nutation process. The scattered intensity is shown no longer to present a Markovian character when the atom is driven by a Gaussian field. The atom gains a sort of memory because of the intensity fluctuations in the driving field.
A method of calculation of multiple-time correlation functions of the resonance fluorescence light from a two-level atom driven by a realistic laser field with phase and amplitude fluctuations is developed. Both kinds of fluctuations are assumed to be Gaussian. The phase fluctuations are treated in the phase-diffusion model. The averaging over the amplitude fluctuations can be performed in a closed way when the relative mean-square amplitude fluctuation is small compared with the ratio of the amplitude correlation decay rate to the characteristic atomic relaxation rate. There is no restriction to Markovian amplitude fluctuations. Arbitrary values for the mean Rabi frequency are allowed. Results are presented for the intensity, the intensity correlation function, and the spectrum of the fluorescent light. It is shown that even in the case when the relative strength of the amplitude fluctuations is small, significant effects can occur due to the finite correlation length of the fluctuations. The results for fast amplitude correlation decay correspond to the situation without amplitude fluctuations. When the correlation time of the amplitude fluctuations becomes comparable with the atomic relaxation times, the Rabi oscillations of the intensity and the intensity correlation function are nearly washed out, and non-Lorentzian line shapes for the side peaks in the spectrum are observed. It is found that the ratio of the heights of the central peak to the side peak increases with increasing correlation time.