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 A

High-resolution spectroscopy and collision studies of high-lying atomic states using four-wave mixing

Duncan G. Steel, Jenny Lam, R. A. McFarlane

Published Aug 1, 1982• 10 citations
Publisher

Abstract

This Communication describes a novel spectroscopic technique for studying high-lying atomic states. The approach uses two cw narrow-band stabilized dye lasers configured in a four-wave-mixing geometry. We demonstrate that the measurements are Doppler-free and the method is capable of high resolution. Using this technique we examine the complex dephasing parameter ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\mathrm{ij}}$ associated with buffer-gas collisions in atomic sodium. Rates for pressure-induced broadening and resonance shifts are reported for neon.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.26.1146

Related papers

High-resolution four-wave light-mixing studies of collision-induced coherence in Na vapor

Lewis J. Rothberg, N. Bloembergen

Near-resonant four-wave light mixing in Na vapor with inert buffer gases reveals collision-induced coherences when the difference frequency between two incident light beams equals the hyperfine splitting or the Zeeman splitting between two states of the $3^{2}S$ ground-state manifold. The Doppler broadening of the corresponding resonances decreases with increasing buffer-gas pressure. The width of the resonances becomes significantly narrower than the spontaneous linewidth of the near-resonant intermediate state and is determined by spin-exchange collisions between ground-state atoms. The dependence of the intensity of these collision-induced resonances on buffer-gas pressure and detuning from one-photon resonances is measured. Selection rules for various polarizations of the incident light fields and directions of an externally applied magnetic field are established.

Physical Review A•Aug 1, 1984•90 citations

High-resolution four-wave-mixing spectroscopy of collision-induced narrow resonances in Doppler-broadened systems

Jing Liu, Duncan G. Steel

We report a series of measurements of the nearly degenerate four-wave-mixing response in atomic sodium in the presence of a helium buffer gas. The results show the line shape associated with both the ground-state and excited-state dynamics. The line shape evolves as a function of pressure from a dip at a pressure of 0 Torr to a spike at a few Torr due to the presence of collisions. The width of the spike is determined by residual Doppler broadening. At higher pressure (\ensuremath{\ge}10 Torr), the width of the spike is further narrowed below the residual Doppler width. The additional reduction is due to a form of Dicke narrowing associated with the dynamics of the lower- and upper-level excitations. The results are in qualitative agreement with a perturbation solution of the density-matrix equations which include the effects of velocity-changing collisions and state-changing collisions.

Physical Review A•Nov 1, 1988•5 citations

Measurement of the argon-gas-induced broadening and shifting of the barium Rydberg levels by two-photon resonant nondegenerate four-wave mixing

孙江 Sun Jiang, Sun Juan, Wang Ying +1 more

We apply two-photon resonant nondegenerate four-wave mixing with a resonant intermediate state for observing the broadening and the shifting of the barium Rydberg 6snd 1D2 series by collision with argon. The collision broadenings and the collision shifting cross sections are measured for n=1633. This technique is a purely optical means, and can achieve Doppler-free resolution of narrow spectral structures of Rydberg levels when the incident lasers have narrow bandwidths. Different from other experimental methods of studying the pressure dependence of the longitudinal relaxation rate of Rydberg states, our method is to investigate the pressure dependence of the transverse relaxation rate of the transition.

Acta Physica Sinica•Jan 1, 2012•1 citation

Observation of Rydberg Series in Sodium Vapour by Two-Photon Resonant Nondegenerate Four-Wave Mixing

Wang Yan-Bang, Jiang Qian, Long Li +3 more

We apply two-photon resonant nondegenerate four-wave mixing with a resonant intermediate state for the observation of Rydberg states in sodium vapour. The broadening and shift of the sodium 3 S -11 D transition perturbed by argon are investigated. This technique can achieve Doppler-free resolution of narrow spectral structures of Rydberg levels if lasers with narrow bandwidths are employed.

Chinese Physics Letters•Aug 16, 2001•1 citation

Studies of picosecond collisional dephasing in atomic sodium vapor using broad-bandwidth transient four-wave mixing

J. E. Golub, THOMAS W. MOSSBERG

We have employed dye-laser pulses of 10-nsec duration and 1.5–10-nm bandwidth in a transient four-wave-mixing experiment to study high-perturber-pressure collisional dephasing in dilute atomic sodium vapor. Working at argon perturber pressures of several atmospheres, we are able clearly to resolve dephasing times over a thousand times shorter than our excitation pulse duration. Measured dephasing rates are in excellent agreement with those measured by more traditional methods. When both of the sodium D lines are excited, our signal displays quantum-beat-like oscillations at the 0.52-THz frequency difference between these two states. We provide a simple picture explaining the origin of these beats.

Journal of the Optical Society of America B•Apr 1, 1986•63 citations

Doppler-free three-photon resonant six-wave mixing

Zuo Zhan-Chun, Sun Jiang, Ling-An Wu +2 more

We study the three-photon resonant six-wave mixing (SWM) with phase-conjugation geometry in Doppler system. The theoretical calculation indicates that the signal spectrum is Doppler-free when the laser line width is narrow. This technique provides a new spectroscopic tool for studying the highly excited atomic or molecular states with high resolution. It has advantages of uncritical phase matching condition, excellent spatial signal resolution and simple optical alignment.

Acta Physica Sinica•Jan 1, 2006•0 citations
This Communication describes a novel spectroscopic technique for studying high-lying atomic states. The approach uses two cw narrow-band stabilized dye lasers configured in a four-wave-mixing geometry. We demonstrate that the measurements are Doppler-free and the method is capable of high resolution. Using this technique we examine the complex dephasing parameter \ensuremathγij{\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\mathrm{ij}}\ensuremathγij​ associated with buffer-gas collisions in atomic sodium. Rates for pressure-induced broadening and resonance shifts are reported for neon.
Near-resonant four-wave light mixing in Na vapor with inert buffer gases reveals collision-induced coherences when the difference frequency between two incident light beams equals the hyperfine splitting or the Zeeman splitting between two states of the 32S3^{2}S32S ground-state manifold. The Doppler broadening of the corresponding resonances decreases with increasing buffer-gas pressure. The width of the resonances becomes significantly narrower than the spontaneous linewidth of the near-resonant intermediate state and is determined by spin-exchange collisions between ground-state atoms. The dependence of the intensity of these collision-induced resonances on buffer-gas pressure and detuning from one-photon resonances is measured. Selection rules for various polarizations of the incident light fields and directions of an externally applied magnetic field are established.
We report a series of measurements of the nearly degenerate four-wave-mixing response in atomic sodium in the presence of a helium buffer gas. The results show the line shape associated with both the ground-state and excited-state dynamics. The line shape evolves as a function of pressure from a dip at a pressure of 0 Torr to a spike at a few Torr due to the presence of collisions. The width of the spike is determined by residual Doppler broadening. At higher pressure (\ensuremath{\ge}10 Torr), the width of the spike is further narrowed below the residual Doppler width. The additional reduction is due to a form of Dicke narrowing associated with the dynamics of the lower- and upper-level excitations. The results are in qualitative agreement with a perturbation solution of the density-matrix equations which include the effects of velocity-changing collisions and state-changing collisions.
We apply two-photon resonant nondegenerate four-wave mixing with a resonant intermediate state for observing the broadening and the shifting of the barium Rydberg 6snd 1D2 series by collision with argon. The collision broadenings and the collision shifting cross sections are measured for n=1633. This technique is a purely optical means, and can achieve Doppler-free resolution of narrow spectral structures of Rydberg levels when the incident lasers have narrow bandwidths. Different from other experimental methods of studying the pressure dependence of the longitudinal relaxation rate of Rydberg states, our method is to investigate the pressure dependence of the transverse relaxation rate of the transition.
We have employed dye-laser pulses of 10-nsec duration and 1.5–10-nm bandwidth in a transient four-wave-mixing experiment to study high-perturber-pressure collisional dephasing in dilute atomic sodium vapor. Working at argon perturber pressures of several atmospheres, we are able clearly to resolve dephasing times over a thousand times shorter than our excitation pulse duration. Measured dephasing rates are in excellent agreement with those measured by more traditional methods. When both of the sodium D lines are excited, our signal displays quantum-beat-like oscillations at the 0.52-THz frequency difference between these two states. We provide a simple picture explaining the origin of these beats.